Behind great teachers, you'll often find a great support network. Teacher's aides -- also known as teacher assistants, paraprofessionals and paraeducators -- work with teachers to complete clerical tasks such as record keeping and to help give students individual attention. Aides might be found supervising the lunch room, leading small groups, in a computer laboratory, or helping students with disabilities learn essential skills.
Salary and Job Growth Projections for Teacher Assistants
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that job opportunities for teacher's aides will grow more than 6 percent between 2014 and 2024 - potentially 37,450 new openings each year. Aides were paid an average annual wage of $26,550 in 2015, but about two in five worked part-time, making this a strong career choice for anyone who needs to pick up a few extra hours.
Teacher aides can be found in several different industries, primarily in child day care services and at the elementary and secondary school level. While a very small percentage of teacher assistants work at the junior college level - only 1.8 percent -- those who do have an annual mean wage of $31,100. Those who work at the elementary and secondary school level have an annual mean wage of $26,870, and those in child day care services have an annual mean wage of $22,960.
Wages also differ depending on the state or metropolitan area in which you live, but higher wages in these locations may be offset by a higher cost of living. These are the five top-paying states, and their corresponding annual mean wages:
| States | Salary |
| Alaska | $39,830 |
| Maine | $32,830 |
| Rhode Island | $32,770 |
| Nevada | $31,670 |
| Washington | $31,570 |
These are the five top-paying metropolitan areas, and their corresponding annual mean wages:
| Metropolitan Area | Salary |
| Fairbanks, Alaska | $48,880 |
| San Rafael, California | $39,420 |
| Anchorage, Alaska | $37,800 |
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, California | $37,120 |
| Portland-South Portland, Maine | $36,890 |
Teacher's Aide Courses for a Respected Occupation
Job opportunities are expected to be best for candidates with a two-year associate degree in paraprofessional education, though a high school diploma and on-the-job training may suffice for areas with low competition. With additional education, aides could go on to become fully licensed teachers.
Teacher's aide courses may include topics such as child growth and development, introduction to literacy, teaching in the multicultural classroom and even first aid and CPR. More specialized courses may depend on the grade level or area of specialization. The BLS reports that many teacher's aides work in special education or multilingual classrooms, so particular training in those areas may be helpful.
Sources:
- Long Term Projections, Projections Central, http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
- Teacher Assistants, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2015, Occupational Employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes259041.htm
- Teacher Assistants, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/teacher-assistants.htm