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What You Need to Know About Teacher Assistant

Job Description & Duties 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

  • Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
  • Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
  • Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
  • Plan, prepare, and develop various teaching aids, such as bibliographies, charts, and graphs.
  • Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
  • Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils to students.

Things a Teacher Assistant Should Know How to Do

Below is a list of the skills most Teacher Assistants say are important on the job.

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)
  • Early Childhood Teacher Assistant (EC Teacher Assistant)
  • Special Education Associate
  • Kindergartners Helper
  • Education Paraprofessional

Job Demand for Teacher Assistants

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,308,100 jobs in the United States for Teacher Assistant. 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.

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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 Salary

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

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

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Teacher Assistants 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

Tools & Technologies Used by Teacher Assistants

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 do I Become a Teacher Assistant?

Are there Teacher Assistants education requirements?

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

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Where Teacher Assistants Are Employed

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Teacher Assistants work in the following industries:

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those who work as a Teacher Assistant sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: IMCBerea College via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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