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The differences between special needs teachers and head teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a head teacher has an average salary of $51,715, 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 head teacher are classroom management, child care, and creative curriculum.
| Special Needs Teacher | Head Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $47,334 | $51,715 |
| Hourly rate | $22.76 | $24.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 74,039 | 73,756 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| 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 headteacher is responsible for monitoring the students' overall learning process, managing and evaluating the performance of school staff, implementing effective learning strategies for the students, encouraging them to reach their maximum potential, and gain self-confidence. Headteachers often lead meetings, especially discussing school activities and the child's performance to their parents, implementing safety policies, and enforcing disciplinary actions for policy violations. A headteacher must have excellent leadership and communication skills to handle the students' needs and support their high-quality performance.
Special needs teachers and head teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Needs Teacher | Head Teacher | |
| Average salary | $47,334 | $51,715 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $65,000 | Between $32,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | San Mateo County Office Of Education | Grand View Health |
| Best paying industry | Education | Retail |
There are a few differences between a special needs teacher and a head teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Needs Teacher | Head Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special needs teachers' and head teachers' demographics:
| Special Needs Teacher | Head Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.8% Female, 79.2% | Male, 13.8% Female, 86.2% |
| 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, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |