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The differences between special education teachers and special ed teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education teacher has an average salary of $54,290, which is higher than the $49,456 average annual salary of a special ed teacher.
The top three skills for a special education teacher include classroom management, autism and behavior management. The most important skills for a special ed teacher are classroom management, instructional materials, and behavior management.
| Special Education Teacher | Special ED Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $54,290 | $49,456 |
| Hourly rate | $26.10 | $23.78 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 67,699 | 71,990 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A special education teacher is responsible for teaching students with disabilities. Special education teachers are trained professionals to provide distinct learning instructions for children with special cases for them to achieve their potentials and improve their self-confidence. A special education teacher must have excellent communication and organizational skills to assist the students with their learning areas. Special education teachers should be able to come up with engaging activities to support the students' behavioral and intellectual development.
Special ED teachers are teaching professionals who create and apply appropriate curricula and assign activities for students with special needs and disabilities. These teachers must work with the parents, general education teachers, and the school administrators to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student. They are required to monitor the behavioral patterns of children with special needs while keeping track of their progress. Special ED teachers must also mentor other professionals who are involved with children with disabilities.
Special education teachers and special ed teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Teacher | Special ED Teacher | |
| Average salary | $54,290 | $49,456 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $73,000 | Between $34,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | Whitby School |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education teacher and a special ed teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Teacher | Special ED Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Special Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education teachers' and special ed teachers' demographics:
| Special Education Teacher | Special ED Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4% | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |