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The differences between special needs teachers and certified teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified teacher has an average salary of $50,708, which is higher than the $47,334 average annual salary of a special needs teacher.
The top three skills for a special needs teacher include autism, behavioral issues and mathematics. The most important skills for a certified teacher are math, mathematics, and kids.
| Special Needs Teacher | Certified Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $47,334 | $50,708 |
| Hourly rate | $22.76 | $24.38 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 74,039 | 92,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A Special Needs Teacher works with children and young people who need support with their learning because they find it difficult. They evaluate students skills to determine their needs, develop teaching plans, and adapt lessons to meet the needs of students.
A certified teacher is responsible for designing lesson plans and activities for the students by following the curriculum and the students' learning needs. Certified teachers manage the coordination of the students within the classroom setting, observe their behaviors, and identify their areas of improvement by determining every student's strengths and weaknesses. They also evaluate the students' performance and progress by conducting assessments and facilitating engaging activities that would not only help the students develop their mental skills but their social connections as well.
Special needs teachers and certified teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Needs Teacher | Certified Teacher | |
| Average salary | $47,334 | $50,708 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $65,000 | Between $37,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Danbury, CT |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | San Mateo County Office Of Education | Universal Health Services |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between a special needs teacher and a certified teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Needs Teacher | Certified Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special needs teachers' and certified teachers' demographics:
| Special Needs Teacher | Certified Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.8% Female, 79.2% | Male, 25.6% Female, 74.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |