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Student teacher vs certified teacher

The differences between student teachers and certified teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student teacher has an average salary of $59,035, which is higher than the $50,708 average annual salary of a certified teacher.

The top three skills for a student teacher include classroom management, math and language arts. The most important skills for a certified teacher are math, mathematics, and kids.

Student teacher vs certified teacher overview

Student TeacherCertified Teacher
Yearly salary$59,035$50,708
Hourly rate$28.38$24.38
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs79,07192,051
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a student teacher do?

A student-teacher is responsible for assisting their supervising instructors in maintaining the class orderliness during lectures and class activities. Student teachers' duties include helping with lesson plans, organizing learning activities, managing student behaviors, observing classroom procedures, preparing visual materials and other educational equipment, providing feedback for students, and keeping students' records for evaluation. A student-teacher must maintain excellent communication and decision-making skills to set goals and make consistent progress to the class while keeping students engaged.

What does a certified teacher do?

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.

Student teacher vs certified teacher salary

Student teachers and certified teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Student TeacherCertified Teacher
Average salary$59,035$50,708
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $74,000Between $37,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MADanbury, CT
Highest paying stateMarylandConnecticut
Best paying companyGreat Hearts AcademiesUniversal Health Services
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between student teacher and certified teacher education

There are a few differences between a student teacher and a certified teacher in terms of educational background:

Student TeacherCertified Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorElementary EducationElementary Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Student teacher vs certified teacher demographics

Here are the differences between student teachers' and certified teachers' demographics:

Student TeacherCertified Teacher
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 26.4% Female, 73.6%Male, 25.6% Female, 74.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between student teacher and certified teacher duties and responsibilities

Student teacher example responsibilities.

  • Manage RTI reading groups using both basal materials and literature-base novel units.
  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Develop lessons that integrate technology into mathematics and language arts for various grade-levels.
  • Enhance student engagement for learning math and science through maintaining collaborative learning classroom environment.
  • Used responsive classroom strategies for Pre-K and first grade.
  • Attend workshops on how to access and create IEPS and bill for services.
  • Show more

Certified teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Prepare and implement daily lessons for reading, math, writing, science, social studies, and global events/locations.
  • Used PBIS behavior and academic model.
  • Serve on PBIS committee to drive school-wide behavior system.
  • Attend IEP meetings, apply accommodations to classroom instruction and assessment, work with co-teacher in inclusion classes.
  • Plan, prepare and demonstrate math instruction materials base on specific learning objectives for 6th , 7th and 8th grades.
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Student teacher vs certified teacher skills

Common student teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 20%
  • Math, 13%
  • Language Arts, 8%
  • Social Studies, 6%
  • Kindergarten, 5%
  • IEP, 4%
Common certified teacher skills
  • Math, 15%
  • Mathematics, 15%
  • Kids, 13%
  • Classroom Management, 9%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Professional Development, 5%

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