Test administrator vs special education assistant

The differences between test administrators and special education assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education assistant has an average salary of $32,149, which is higher than the $25,904 average annual salary of a test administrator.

The top three skills for a test administrator include exam process, technical issues and test materials. The most important skills for a special education assistant are paraprofessional, behavior management, and IEP.

Test administrator vs special education assistant overview

	Test Administrator	Special Education Assistant
Yearly salary	$25,904	$32,149
Hourly rate	$12.45	$15.46
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	68,229	62,239
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	-	-

What does a test administrator do?

A test administrator is responsible for observing and monitoring the students during examinations and related assessments. Test administrators discuss the procedures and rules before the test, responding to any inquiries and concerns the examinees may have. They provide the tools and materials needed for the assessment, as well as verifying the identity of each examinee. A test administrator must be highly observant and organizational, strictly implementing regulations and operating testing equipment, and perform troubleshooting for technical issues.

What does a special education assistant do?

A special education assistant is responsible for supporting class activities in an inclusive classroom setting, assisting students with their tasks under the supervision of a special education teacher. Special education assistants create comprehensive lesson plans which adhere to the students' curriculum and special needs. They also help with developing engaging activities to promote an active learning environment while monitoring the students' personal and social behavior. A special education assistant must have excellent communication and organization skills, ensuring the progress of the students by regular interaction, and managing their needs.

Test administrator vs special education assistant salary

Test administrators and special education assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Test Administrator	Special Education Assistant
Average salary	$25,904	$32,149
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $33,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Rochester, NY	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Eli Lilly and Company	Benicia Unified School District
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between test administrator and special education assistant education

There are a few differences between a test administrator and a special education assistant in terms of educational background:

	Test Administrator	Special Education Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Business	Psychology
Most common college	Northwestern University	Northwestern University

Test administrator vs special education assistant demographics

Here are the differences between test administrators' and special education assistants' demographics:

	Test Administrator	Special Education Assistant
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 32.7% Female, 67.3%	Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.2% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between test administrator and special education assistant duties and responsibilities

Test administrator example responsibilities.

Manage FTPS relationship by communicating SharePoint & OIM architecture standards and frameworks, answering questions, resolving concerns and issues.
Design, implement and manage corporate-wide DNS, including 5K+ objects, and manage both IBM DS4800 and N3600 SAN systems.
Manage incidents of unacceptable identification or authorization on behalf of Prometric clients.
Manage incidents of unacceptable identification or authorization-to-test documentation according to Prometric and the clients expectations
Manage and coordinate office operations and procedures to include payroll preparation, information management/filing systems, and supply requisitions.
Perform tests on the oil API, gas H2S and CO2 content, and water salinity.

Special education assistant example responsibilities.

Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
Implement behavioral plans design by IEP team for students with behavior disorders or other learning disabilities
Accompany students to special classes (art, music, PE) and on field trips.
Complete Medicaid forms on a daily basis.
Assist special needs children with independent skills and work tasks, fill out Medicaid paperwork.
Provide one on one attention to pre-k partner child with multiple activities while promoting language and developmental skills.

Test administrator vs special education assistant skills

Common test administrator skills

Exam Process, 28%
Technical Issues, 25%
Test Materials, 8%
Careful Judgment, 3%
Test Candidates, 3%
Administer Tests, 3%

Common special education assistant skills

Paraprofessional, 15%
Behavior Management, 10%
IEP, 9%
CPR, 7%
Adaptive, 7%
Behavioral Issues, 6%

Test Administrator vs. similar jobs

Test Administrator related careers

Test Administrator related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Education, Training, and Library Industry
Test Administrator
Test Administrator vs Special Education Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse education, training, and library jobs