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The differences between special needs teachers and kindergarten teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a kindergarten teacher has an average salary of $48,029, 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 kindergarten teacher are classroom management, math, and professional development.
| Special Needs Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $47,334 | $48,029 |
| Hourly rate | $22.76 | $23.09 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 74,039 | 65,972 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| 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.
Kindergarten teachers teach young children social and emotional skills, reading skills, music, and personal hygiene. They prepare these children for elementary school and certain life aspects. It is also their responsibility to teach children good classroom behavior, plan the curriculum daily and the whole school year, and conduct parent-teach meetings. Kindergarten teachers should encourage children to be observant of activities and give them the chance to ask questions and find the answers. They should also work with parents in putting an action plan to help children with emotional or developmental problems.
Special needs teachers and kindergarten teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Needs Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Average salary | $47,334 | $48,029 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $65,000 | Between $37,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | San Mateo County Office Of Education | Brooklyn Waldorf School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Finance |
There are a few differences between a special needs teacher and a kindergarten teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Needs Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special needs teachers' and kindergarten teachers' demographics:
| Special Needs Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.8% Female, 79.2% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |