All About Teacher Assistants
Teacher Assistant Example 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.
Teacher Assistant Responsibilities
- Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
- Prepare lesson outlines and plans in assigned subject areas and submit outlines to teachers for review.
- Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils to students.
- Grade homework and tests, and compute and record results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
- Requisition and stock teaching materials and supplies.
- Participate in teacher-parent conferences regarding students' progress or problems.
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What a Teacher Assistant Should Know
These are the skills Teacher Assistants say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Other Teacher Assistant Job Titles
- Basic Skills Improvement Program Instructional Aide (BSIP Instructional Aide)
- Classroom Aide
- Visual Aid Expert
- Exceptional Student Education Aide (ESE Aide)
- Special Education Associate
Job Opportunities for Teacher Assistants
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. The BLS estimates 147,900 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Teacher Assistant Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a Teacher Assistant ranges between $18,670 and $41,020.

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
How to Become a Teacher Assistant
What kind of Teacher Assistant requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Teacher Assistant?

Where Teacher Assistants Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Teacher Assistants employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Career changers with experience as a Teacher Assistant sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: IMCBerea College via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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