Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Teacher Assistant

Find Schools Near

What You Need to Know About Teacher Assistant

Teacher Assistant Definition Perform duties that are instructional in nature or deliver direct services to students or parents. Serve in a position for which a teacher has ultimate responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

A Day in the Life of a Teacher Assistant

  • Carry out therapeutic regimens, such as behavior modification and personal development programs, under the supervision of special education instructors, psychologists, or speech-language pathologists.
  • Observe students’ performance, and record relevant data to assess progress.
  • Participate in teacher-parent conferences regarding students’ progress or problems.
  • Laminate teaching materials to increase their durability under repeated use.
  • Grade homework and tests, and compute and record results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
  • Clean classrooms.

What Every Teacher Assistant Should Know

Teacher Assistants state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Types of Teacher Assistant Jobs

  • Grader
  • Teaching Assistant
  • Paraeducator
  • Grading Clerk
  • Educational Assistant Teacher

Teacher Assistant Job Outlook

There were about 1,308,100 jobs for Teacher Assistant in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 109,500 new jobs for Teacher Assistant by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 147,900 job openings in this field each year.

undefined

The states with the most job growth for Teacher Assistant are Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Teacher Assistants Make A Lot Of Money?

Teacher Assistants make between $18,670 and $41,020 a year.

undefined

Teacher Assistants who work in Alaska, California, or Washington, make the highest salaries.

How much do Teacher Assistants make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $21,190
Alaska $39,640
Arizona $25,620
Arkansas $21,190
California $35,350
Colorado $29,900
Connecticut $34,650
Delaware $31,400
District of Columbia $35,300
Florida $25,010
Georgia $21,770
Hawaii $30,230
Idaho $24,000
Illinois $27,710
Indiana $23,510
Iowa $25,320
Kansas $24,650
Kentucky $27,290
Louisiana $21,510
Maine $33,600
Maryland $33,280
Massachusetts $35,680
Michigan $27,570
Minnesota $32,120
Mississippi $19,940
Missouri $27,220
Montana $26,630
Nebraska $26,540
Nevada $31,080
New Hampshire $30,770
New Jersey $29,150
New Mexico $22,180
New York $31,330
North Carolina $23,960
North Dakota $32,550
Ohio $27,290
Oklahoma $19,900
Oregon $32,210
Pennsylvania $26,640
Rhode Island $32,840
South Carolina $23,240
South Dakota $24,580
Tennessee $24,890
Texas $23,290
Utah $26,230
Vermont $32,630
Virginia $28,000
Washington $35,130
West Virginia $24,940
Wisconsin $29,320
Wyoming $31,310

What Tools do Teacher Assistants Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Teacher Assistants:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Blackboard
  • Children’s educational software
  • Text to speech software
  • Screen reader software
  • Screen magnification software
  • Student information systems SIS
  • Hand held spell checkers

Becoming a Teacher Assistant

Learn what Teacher Assistant education requirements there are.

undefined

How Long Does it Take to Become a Teacher Assistant?

undefined

Who Employs Teacher Assistants?

undefined

Teacher Assistants work in the following industries:

undefined

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Are you already one of the many Teacher Assistant in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: IMCBerea College via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.