All About Teacher Assistants
Career Description 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.
List of Teacher Assistant Job Duties
- Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
- Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
- Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.
- Clean classrooms.
- Requisition and stock teaching materials and supplies.
- Maintain computers in classrooms and laboratories and assist students with hardware and software use.
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Teacher Assistant Skills
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Educational Technician
- Exceptional Student Education Aide (ESE Aide)
- Practice Teacher
- Teacher’s Aide
- Educational Assistant
Job Demand for Teacher Assistants
In the United States, there were 1,308,100 jobs for Teacher Assistant in 2016. 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.
Average Teacher Assistants Salary
The salary for Teacher Assistants ranges between about $18,670 and $41,020 a year.

Teacher Assistants who work in Alaska, California, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Teacher Assistants make in different U.S. states?
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 & Technology 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
What education is needed to be a Teacher Assistant?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Teacher Assistant?

Where do Teacher Assistants Work?

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

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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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