What is a Teacher Assistant?
Teacher Assistant Job 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.
What Do Teacher Assistants Do On a Daily Basis?
- Prepare lesson outlines and plans in assigned subject areas and submit outlines to teachers for review.
- Type, file, and duplicate materials.
- Provide extra assistance to students with special needs.
- Conduct demonstrations to teach skills, such as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
- Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, or supervised role-playing methods.
- Participate in teacher-parent conferences regarding students' progress or problems.
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Qualities of a Teacher Assistant
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
- Instructional Aide
- Teacher’s Aide
- Substitute Teacher
- Test Grader
- Special Education Paraprofessional
Job Outlook 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 147,900 job openings in this field each year.

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.
How Much Does a Teacher Assistant Make?
The typical yearly salary for Teacher Assistants is somewhere 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 & Technology do Teacher Assistants Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Teacher Assistants may use on a daily basis:
- 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 Teacher Assistants Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Similar Careers
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.
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