Job Outlook for:
Teacher Assistants
SOC: 25-9041 OOH: U142
| Teacher Assistants Quick Stats |
|
| Total Jobs in 2016 | 1,308,100 |
| Expected Growth | 8% (As fast as average) |
| New Jobs To Be Added from 2016 to 2026 |
109,500 |
| Median Pay | $25,000 to $34,999 |
- Job Outlook for Teacher Assistants
- Pay for Teacher Assistants
- What do Teacher Assistants do all day
- The work environment
- How to become one
Employment Outlook for Teacher Assistants
Employment of teacher assistants is projected to grow 8 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Rising student enrollment along with state and federal funding for education programs should affect growth.
Teacher assistants are more of a supplementary position, as opposed to teachers, who hold a primary position. Therefore, teacher assistants’ employment opportunities may depend on school districts’ budgets. Schools are more likely to eliminate teacher assistant positions rather than teacher positions when there is a budget shortfall, and more likely to hire teacher assistants when there is a budget surplus.
Job Prospects
In addition to job openings due to employment growth, numerous openings will arise as assistants leave the occupation and must be replaced. Because of the education requirements and low pay, many workers transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force to take care of family responsibilities, to return to school, or for other reasons.
Typical Pay for Teacher Assistants
The median annual wage for teacher assistants was $25,410 in May 2016. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,120, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $38,820.
In May 2016, the median annual wages for teacher assistants in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | $26,140 |
| Elementary and secondary schools; private | 25,300 |
| Child day care services | 21,990 |
About 1 in 3 teacher assistants worked part time in 2016. Some monitor students on school buses before and after school. Although many do not work during the summer, some work in year-round schools or assist teachers in summer school.
Union Membership
Compared with workers in all occupations, teacher assistants had a higher percentage of workers who belonged to a union in 2016.
What Teacher Assistants Do All Day
Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.
Duties
Teacher assistants typically do the following:
- Reinforce lessons presented by teachers by reviewing material with students one-on-one or in small groups
- Enforce school and class rules to teach students proper behavior
- Help teachers with recordkeeping, such as tracking attendance and calculating grades
- Set up equipment or get material ready to help teachers prepare for lessons
- Supervise students in class, between classes, during lunch and recess, and on field trips
Teacher assistants also are called teacher aides, instructional aides, paraprofessionals, education assistants, and paraeducators.
Teacher assistants work with or under the guidance of a licensed teacher. Generally, teachers introduce new material to students while teacher assistants help reinforce the lessons by working with individual students or small groups of students. For example, after the teacher presents a lesson, a teacher assistant may help a small group of students as they try to master the material.
Teachers may seek feedback from teacher assistants to monitor students’ progress. Some teachers and teacher assistants meet regularly to discuss lesson plans and students’ development. Teacher assistants sometimes help teachers by grading tests and checking homework.
Some teacher assistants work only with special education students. In some cases, these special education students attend regular classes, and teacher assistants help them understand the material and adapt the information to their learning style. Teacher assistants may work with students who have more severe disabilities in separate classrooms. They help these students with basic needs, such as eating or personal hygiene. With young adults, they may help students with disabilities learn skills necessary for them to find a job or live independently after graduation.
Some teacher assistants work in specific school locations. For example, some work in computer laboratories, teaching students how to use computers and helping them use software. Others work as recess or lunchroom attendants, supervising students during these times.
Although most teacher assistants work in schools, others work in childcare centers. Often, one or two assistants work with a lead teacher to provide the individual attention that young children need. They help with educational activities, supervise the children at play, and help with feeding and other basic care.
Work Environment for Teacher Assistants
Teacher assistants held about 1.3 million jobs in 2016. The largest employers of teacher assistants were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 69% |
| Child day care services | 10 |
| Elementary and secondary schools; private | 8 |
Teacher assistants may spend some time outside, when students are at recess or getting on and off the bus. Those who work with special education students may need to lift the students at certain times.
Work Schedules
About 1 in 3 teacher assistants worked part time in 2016. Some ride the bus with students before and after school. Although many do not work during the summer, some work in year-round schools or help teachers in summer school.
Injuries and Illnesses
Teacher assistants have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. They actively work with students, including lifting and otherwise assisting special education students, which can place them at risk for injuries such as strains.
How To Become a Teacher Assistant
Teacher assistants typically need to have completed at least 2 years of college coursework.
Education
Most school districts require applicants to have completed at least 2 years of college coursework or have earned an associate’s degree. Teacher assistants in schools that have a Title 1 program (a federal program for schools with a large proportion of students from low-income households) must have at least a 2-year degree, 2 years of college, or pass a state or local assessment.
Associate’s degree programs for teacher assistants prepare the participants to develop educational materials, observe students, and understand the role of teachers and teaching assistants in the classroom.
Most states require instructional aides who work with special-needs students to pass a skills-based test.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Teacher assistants need to be able to discuss students’ progress with teachers and parents in an efficient manner.
Interpersonal skills. Teacher assistants interact with a variety of people, including teachers, students, parents, and administrators. They need to be able to develop good relationships with the people they work with.
Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult. Teacher assistants must be patient with students.
Resourcefulness. To reinforce lessons, teacher assistants must explain information to students in a way that meets each student’s learning style.
Advancement
Teacher assistants may become a kindergarten and elementary school teacher, middle school teacher, high school teacher, or special education teacher upon obtaining additional education, training, and a license/certification.
"Teacher Assistants" SOC: 25-9041 OOH Code: U142