What Do Elementary Special Education Teachers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for elementary special education teachers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what elementary 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.
Elementary Special Education Teachers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about elementary special education teachers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Elementary Special Education Teachers all special education teachers not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For Elementary Special Education Teachers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Special Education Teachers
- Special Education Paraprofessionals
- Special Education Paraeducators
- School Special Education Teachers
- Intervention Specialists
- Special Needs Caregivers
- Behavior Support Specialists
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teachers
- Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Special Education Resource Teachers
- Mild/Moderate Special Education Teachers
- Paraprofessionals
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for elementary special education teachers can be found.
Best Industries for Elementary Special Education Teachers
Elementary Special Education Teachers Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 58%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 15.5%
- Educational Support Services: 4.7%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 3.5%
- Individual and Family Services: 3.1%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 2.6%
- Other: 12.6%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of elementary special education teachers can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 58% of all jobs for elementary special education teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (15.5%), Educational Support Services (4.7%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (3.5%), Individual and Family Services (3.1%) and Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (2.6%).
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What Do Elementary Special Education Teachers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what elementary 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 elementary 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 elementary special education teachers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for elementary 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 Elementary Special Education Teachers
Based on 96,850 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Elementary Special Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 65,673 | 68% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 35,214 | 36% |
| Lesson Planning | 12,241 | 13% |
| Disabilities | 10,469 | 11% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 8,967 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Elementary Special Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 41,512 | 43% |
| Communication | 33,276 | 34% |
| Planning | 14,820 | 15% |
| Writing | 13,114 | 14% |
| Management | 11,026 | 11% |
Based on 96,850 job postings related to elementary special education teachers, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 68% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for individualized education programs (iep), lesson planning, disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and classroom management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for elementary special education teachers, followed by communication, planning, writing, management and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 65,673 | 68% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 35,214 | 36% |
| Lesson Planning | 12,241 | 13% |
| Disabilities | 10,469 | 11% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 8,967 | 9% |
| Classroom Management | 8,121 | 8% |
| Behavior Management | 6,947 | 7% |
| Curriculum Development | 6,033 | 6% |
| Student Services | 5,743 | 6% |
| Toileting | 5,606 | 6% |
| Instructional Strategies | 5,578 | 6% |
| Learning Styles | 5,312 | 5% |
| Working With Children | 5,302 | 5% |
| Educational Assessment | 4,849 | 5% |
| Data Collection | 4,721 | 5% |
| Psychology | 4,643 | 5% |
| Child Development | 3,859 | 4% |
| Office Equipment | 3,789 | 4% |
| Intervention Plans | 3,740 | 4% |
| Learning Disabilities | 3,691 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 41,512 | 43% |
| Communication | 33,276 | 34% |
| Planning | 14,820 | 15% |
| Writing | 13,114 | 14% |
| Management | 11,026 | 11% |
| English Language | 9,900 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 9,810 | 10% |
| Mathematics | 9,185 | 9% |
| Research | 8,591 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 7,464 | 8% |
| Leadership | 7,108 | 7% |
| Progress Reporting | 6,008 | 6% |
| Lifting Ability | 4,578 | 5% |
| Coordinating | 4,570 | 5% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 4,354 | 4% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 4,326 | 4% |
| Multilingualism | 4,299 | 4% |
| Coaching | 4,235 | 4% |
| Organizational Skills | 4,161 | 4% |
| Record Keeping | 4,093 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Elementary Special Education Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers | 86,356 | 54.4% |
| Special Education Paraprofessionals | 21,128 | 13.3% |
| Special Education Paraeducators | 9,083 | 5.7% |
| School Special Education Teachers | 6,528 | 4.1% |
| Intervention Specialists | 3,824 | 2.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was special education teachers, with 23,677 unique job postings. Special education paraprofessionals were second, with 3,003 postings, followed by special education paraeducators, school special education teachers and intervention specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to elementary special education teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers | 86,356 | 54.4% |
| Special Education Paraprofessionals | 21,128 | 13.3% |
| Special Education Paraeducators | 9,083 | 5.7% |
| School Special Education Teachers | 6,528 | 4.1% |
| Intervention Specialists | 3,824 | 2.4% |
| Special Needs Caregivers | 2,660 | 1.7% |
| Behavior Support Specialists | 2,124 | 1.3% |
| Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teachers | 3,160 | 2% |
| Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired | 2,391 | 1.5% |
| Special Education Resource Teachers | 2,366 | 1.5% |
| Mild/Moderate Special Education Teachers | 2,943 | 1.9% |
| Paraprofessionals | 2,066 | 1.3% |
| Autism Teachers | 2,464 | 1.6% |
| Autism Paraprofessionals | 1,787 | 1.1% |
| Paraeducators | 2,254 | 1.4% |
| Reading Interventionists | 1,717 | 1.1% |
| Long Term Substitute Special Education Teachers | 1,230 | 0.8% |
| Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing | 1,568 | 1% |
| Self-Contained Special Education Teachers | 1,596 | 1% |
| Educational Diagnosticians | 1,408 | 0.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for elementary special education teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for elementary special education teachers.
How much do elementary special education teachers make?
Elementary Special Education Teachers: How do you become one?
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