Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between special needs teachers and preschool teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special needs teacher has an average salary of $47,334, which is higher than the $33,582 average annual salary of a preschool teacher.
The top three skills for a special needs teacher include autism, behavioral issues and mathematics. The most important skills for a preschool teacher are child care, CPR, and classroom management.
| Special Needs Teacher | Preschool Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $47,334 | $33,582 |
| Hourly rate | $22.76 | $16.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 74,039 | 55,298 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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 project leader is in charge of managing and leading a team to reach project goals in adherence to schedules and budgets. Their responsibilities revolve around setting objectives and guidelines, assessing workforce performance, assisting staff in difficult areas, answering inquiries, and resolving issues to maintain an efficient workflow. A project leader must also produce progress reports and presentations, updating managers or supervisors as needed. Furthermore, as a project leader, it is essential to lead and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Special needs teachers and preschool teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Needs Teacher | Preschool Teacher | |
| Average salary | $47,334 | $33,582 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $65,000 | Between $23,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | San Mateo County Office Of Education | Kings Canyon Unified School District |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a special needs teacher and a preschool teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Needs Teacher | Preschool Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between special needs teachers' and preschool teachers' demographics:
| Special Needs Teacher | Preschool Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.8% Female, 79.2% | Male, 6.4% Female, 93.6% |
| 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, 8.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |