What Do Special Education Instructors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for special education instructors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what special education instructors do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Special Education Instructors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about special education instructors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Special Education Instructors this occupation includes the 2018 SOC occupations 25-2055 Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and 25-2056 Special Education Teachers, Elementary School.
Popular Job Titles For Special Education Instructors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Reading Specialists
- Special Education Associates
- Academic Interventionists
- Behavior Interventionists
- Special Education Instructors
- Search Engine Evaluators
- Special Education Supervisors
- Interventionists
- Title Managers
- Education Support Professionals
- Long Term Substitute Special Education Teachers
- Special Education Clerks
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for special education instructors can be found.
Best Industries for Special Education Instructors
Special Education Instructors Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 91.3%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 6.8%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 0.6%
- Individual and Family Services: 0.3%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 0.2%
- Child Day Care Services: 0.2%
- Other: 0.6%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of special education instructors can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2022, about 91.3% of all jobs for special education instructors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (6.8%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (0.6%), Individual and Family Services (0.3%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (0.2%) and Child Day Care Services (0.2%).
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- Cost Per Credit: $398
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- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Special Education Instructors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what special education instructors do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work special education instructors do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that special education instructors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for special education instructors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Special Education Instructors
Based on 13,105 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Special Education Instructors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 8,080 | 62% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,085 | 24% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,636 | 12% |
| Disabilities | 1,357 | 10% |
| Classroom Management | 1,253 | 10% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Special Education Instructors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 5,062 | 39% |
| Teaching | 4,951 | 38% |
| Planning | 2,063 | 16% |
| Writing | 1,977 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 1,863 | 14% |
Based on 13,105 job postings related to special education instructors, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for individualized education programs (iep), lesson planning, disabilities, classroom management and reading instruction were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for special education instructors, followed by teaching, planning, writing, mathematics and management.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 8,080 | 62% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,085 | 24% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,636 | 12% |
| Disabilities | 1,357 | 10% |
| Classroom Management | 1,253 | 10% |
| Reading Instruction | 1,026 | 8% |
| Curriculum Development | 928 | 7% |
| Behavior Management | 910 | 7% |
| Instructional Strategies | 876 | 7% |
| Toileting | 869 | 7% |
| Working With Children | 864 | 7% |
| Data Collection | 829 | 6% |
| Learning Styles | 674 | 5% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 641 | 5% |
| Child Development | 625 | 5% |
| Office Equipment | 617 | 5% |
| Student Services | 605 | 5% |
| Educational Assessment | 586 | 4% |
| Progress Monitoring | 526 | 4% |
| Intervention Plans | 520 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 5,062 | 39% |
| Teaching | 4,951 | 38% |
| Planning | 2,063 | 16% |
| Writing | 1,977 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 1,863 | 14% |
| Management | 1,469 | 11% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,399 | 11% |
| English Language | 1,318 | 10% |
| Research | 1,299 | 10% |
| Leadership | 1,201 | 9% |
| Multilingualism | 1,111 | 8% |
| Problem Solving | 976 | 7% |
| Progress Reporting | 970 | 7% |
| Training And Development | 883 | 7% |
| Coaching | 833 | 6% |
| Clerical Works | 800 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 752 | 6% |
| Coordinating | 748 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 742 | 6% |
| Spanish Language | 689 | 5% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Special Education Instructors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Specialists | 2,369 | 21.4% |
| Special Education Associates | 2,013 | 18.2% |
| Academic Interventionists | 1,107 | 10% |
| Behavior Interventionists | 848 | 7.7% |
| Special Education Instructors | 629 | 5.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was reading specialists, with 616 unique job postings. Special education associates were second, with 506 postings, followed by academic interventionists, behavior interventionists and special education instructors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to special education instructors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Specialists | 2,369 | 21.4% |
| Special Education Associates | 2,013 | 18.2% |
| Academic Interventionists | 1,107 | 10% |
| Behavior Interventionists | 848 | 7.7% |
| Special Education Instructors | 629 | 5.7% |
| Search Engine Evaluators | 415 | 3.8% |
| Special Education Supervisors | 285 | 2.6% |
| Interventionists | 343 | 3.1% |
| Title Managers | 435 | 3.9% |
| Education Support Professionals | 466 | 4.2% |
| Long Term Substitute Special Education Teachers | 304 | 2.7% |
| Special Education Clerks | 257 | 2.3% |
| Special Education Consultants | 138 | 1.2% |
| Special Education Specialists | 228 | 2.1% |
| Intervention Specialists | 240 | 2.2% |
| Instructional Facilitators | 264 | 2.4% |
| Special Education Facilitators | 201 | 1.8% |
| 3rd Grade Bilingual Teachers | 131 | 1.2% |
| Special Education Liaisons | 192 | 1.7% |
| Elementary Reading Teachers | 191 | 1.7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for special education instructors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for special education instructors.
How much do special education instructors make?
Special Education Instructors: How do you become one?
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