What Do Preschool Special Education Teachers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for preschool special education teachers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what preschool special education teachers 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.
Preschool Special Education Teachers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about preschool special education teachers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Preschool Special Education Teachers teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Popular Job Titles For Preschool Special Education Teachers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Behavior Interventionists
- Early Intervention Specialists
- Behavioral Interventionists
- Interventionists
- Preschool Special Education Teachers
- Early Interventionists
- Doctors of Dental Surgery
- In Home Therapy Clinicians
- Outdoor Educators
- Preschool Intervention Specialists
- Service Volunteers
- Literacy Interventionists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for preschool special education teachers can be found.
Best Industries for Preschool Special Education Teachers
Preschool Special Education Teachers Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 60.8%
- Child Day Care Services: 14.8%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 7.4%
- Individual and Family Services: 7.1%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 3.9%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 2%
- Other: 4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of preschool special education teachers can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2022, about 60.8% of all jobs for preschool special education teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Child Day Care Services (14.8%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (7.4%), Individual and Family Services (7.1%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (3.9%) and Offices of Other Health Practitioners (2%).
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Degree Options for Preschool Special Education Teachers
Empower your students by maximizing their learning as an Ohio special education teacher in grades K-12.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Preschool Special Education Teachers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what preschool special education teachers 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 preschool special education teachers 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 preschool special education teachers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for preschool special education teachers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Preschool Special Education Teachers
Based on 11,621 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Preschool Special Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 3,099 | 27% |
| Psychology | 2,655 | 23% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 2,394 | 21% |
| Working With Children | 2,212 | 19% |
| Child Development | 1,960 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Preschool Special Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,810 | 33% |
| Teaching | 3,362 | 29% |
| Social Skills | 1,380 | 12% |
| Planning | 1,323 | 11% |
| Multilingualism | 1,300 | 11% |
Based on 11,621 job postings related to preschool special education teachers, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for psychology, autism spectrum disorders, working with children, child development and preschool education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for preschool special education teachers, followed by teaching, social skills, planning, multilingualism and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 3,099 | 27% |
| Psychology | 2,655 | 23% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 2,394 | 21% |
| Working With Children | 2,212 | 19% |
| Child Development | 1,960 | 17% |
| Preschool Education | 1,935 | 17% |
| Social Work | 1,741 | 15% |
| Mental Health | 1,486 | 13% |
| Early Intervention | 1,459 | 13% |
| Behavioral Health | 1,443 | 12% |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 1,440 | 12% |
| Disabilities | 1,404 | 12% |
| Treatment Planning | 1,385 | 12% |
| Data Collection | 1,146 | 10% |
| Caregiving | 1,095 | 9% |
| Behaviour Therapy | 1,061 | 9% |
| Developmental Disabilities | 1,042 | 9% |
| Sociology | 1,031 | 9% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 978 | 8% |
| Positive Behavior Support | 836 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,810 | 33% |
| Teaching | 3,362 | 29% |
| Social Skills | 1,380 | 12% |
| Planning | 1,323 | 11% |
| Multilingualism | 1,300 | 11% |
| Writing | 1,237 | 11% |
| Research | 1,025 | 9% |
| Coaching | 1,016 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,016 | 9% |
| Management | 935 | 8% |
| Leadership | 912 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 787 | 7% |
| Organizational Skills | 758 | 7% |
| Detail Oriented | 743 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 742 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 735 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 698 | 6% |
| Spanish Language | 673 | 6% |
| Mathematics | 660 | 6% |
| English Language | 648 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Preschool Special Education Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Interventionists | 12,304 | 39.9% |
| Early Intervention Specialists | 3,562 | 11.5% |
| Behavioral Interventionists | 3,237 | 10.5% |
| Interventionists | 2,029 | 6.6% |
| Preschool Special Education Teachers | 741 | 2.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was behavior interventionists, with 2,563 unique job postings. Early intervention specialists were second, with 935 postings, followed by behavioral interventionists, interventionists and preschool special education teachers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to preschool special education teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Interventionists | 12,304 | 39.9% |
| Early Intervention Specialists | 3,562 | 11.5% |
| Behavioral Interventionists | 3,237 | 10.5% |
| Interventionists | 2,029 | 6.6% |
| Preschool Special Education Teachers | 741 | 2.4% |
| Early Interventionists | 1,087 | 3.5% |
| Doctors of Dental Surgery | 673 | 2.2% |
| In Home Therapy Clinicians | 789 | 2.6% |
| Outdoor Educators | 320 | 1% |
| Preschool Intervention Specialists | 310 | 1% |
| Service Volunteers | 3,425 | 11.1% |
| Literacy Interventionists | 257 | 0.8% |
| Special Needs Assistants | 436 | 1.4% |
| Restaurant General Managers | 445 | 1.4% |
| Intervention Specialists | 182 | 0.6% |
| Physical Educators | 178 | 0.6% |
| Developmental Disabilities Specialists | 125 | 0.4% |
| Preschool Educators | 167 | 0.5% |
| Developmental Interventionists | 295 | 1% |
| Occupational Therapists | 309 | 1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for preschool special education teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for preschool special education teachers.
How much do preschool special education teachers make?
Preschool Special Education Teachers: How do you become one?
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