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Teacher vs certified teacher

The differences between 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 $47,989 average annual salary of a teacher.

The top three skills for a teacher include ESL, handle scheduling and kids. The most important skills for a certified teacher are math, mathematics, and kids.

Teacher vs certified teacher overview

TeacherCertified Teacher
Yearly salary$47,989$50,708
Hourly rate$23.07$24.38
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs71,91892,051
Job satisfaction4.14-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a teacher do?

Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.

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.

Teacher vs certified teacher salary

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

TeacherCertified Teacher
Average salary$47,989$50,708
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $70,000Between $37,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityBaltimore, MDDanbury, CT
Highest paying stateMarylandConnecticut
Best paying companyKing Low Heywood ThomasUniversal Health Services
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between teacher and certified teacher education

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

TeacherCertified Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorElementary EducationElementary Education
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Teacher vs certified teacher demographics

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

TeacherCertified Teacher
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 25.7% Female, 74.3%Male, 25.6% Female, 74.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 68.8% 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 teacher and certified teacher duties and responsibilities

Teacher example responsibilities.

  • Work closely with co-teacher to manage and co-teach curriculum to a large group.
  • Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Develop social studies and geography curriculum.
  • Provide kindergarten readiness in approaching phonemic awareness, phonics, and introductory math skills.
  • Attend and participate in ESL professional development activities, conferences/workshops, curriculum/program planning, & special events and activities.
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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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Teacher vs certified teacher skills

Common teacher skills
  • ESL, 17%
  • Handle Scheduling, 15%
  • Kids, 12%
  • Classroom Management, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%
Common certified teacher skills
  • Math, 15%
  • Mathematics, 15%
  • Kids, 13%
  • Classroom Management, 9%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Professional Development, 5%

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