Los Angeles Special Education Jobs Overview
Are you looking to positively impact students' lives and help them reach their highest potential? If the answer is yes, you should start applying for special education jobs. As a special education teacher, you'll work with children of all ages with various behavioral, learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities to help improve their quality of life.
While many begin their careers working as a teacher or teacher's assistant in special education classrooms, you can pursue opportunities in roles such as a behavior analyst, recreational therapist, speech and language pathologist, or school psychologist as well. However, these will usually require an advanced degree or certification.
In a teaching role, you'll work with counselors, administrators, general teachers, and parents to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student according to their needs. An IEP outlines the performance and requirements of the student and provides measurable learning and behavioral goals.
Your responsibilities will vary depending on your work setting, specialty, and the students' disabilities. However, you'll typically do the following:
- evaluate the students’ skills and determine their educational needs
- meet with parents to discuss their children's progress
- schedule activities specific to each student's abilities
- teach and mentor students in classrooms, small groups, and one-on-one
- update IEPs throughout the year to reflect students' development
You can expand your search for education jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Los Angeles, California
The Hollywood sign stands for everything glamourous and star-studded in Los Angeles. But did you know it was built in the 1920s to advertise a new neighborhood called Hollywoodland? The "land" was eventually dropped from the sign in 1949, and it became associated with nearby Paramount Pictures, Universal, and Warner Brothers. Today, downtown L.A. is the largest government hub outside of Washington D.C. and has the largest historical theater district in the U.S. But not all Los Angeles jobs are in show business. More than 700,000 health services and biomedical jobs and 190,000 aerospace jobs stoke L.A.'s economy.
If L.A. were a country, the city's economy would be bigger than those of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Sweden. Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis, engulfing five counties—Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange, and San Bernardino. If you're looking for jobs in Los Angeles, you have a lot of choices for relocation. There are more than 80 neighborhoods in L.A. and 16 districts just in downtown. For those who want a slightly less hectic pace, you can also find jobs in L.A.'s beautiful suburbs, including Pasadena, West Covina, and Anaheim.
Update Your Los Angeles Special Education Resume
When it comes to your job search, resume writing can be a challenging subject to conquer. That's why we're here to help. When you craft your resume, highlight your teaching skills, such as communication style and teaching methods, with solid examples of how you've put them into action. If you want an A+ job, check out our sample teacher resume for ideas and inspiration to get your resume noticed.
Also, don't forget to include that all-important cover letter that briefly describes your professional background and passion for the job. For more help, refer to our sample teacher cover letter and library of practical cover letter tips.
How Much Do Special Education Jobs Pay in Los Angeles, California?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in special education jobs in Los Angeles, California, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median special education teacher pay in Los Angeles is $20.25 per hour, which is 1% lower than the national average.
Find Your Next Los Angeles Special Education Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in special education? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those special education jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Los Angeles, how to nail your job interview, and more.