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How to hire a classroom aide

Classroom aide hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring classroom aides in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a classroom aide is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new classroom aide to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a classroom aide, step by step

To hire a classroom aide, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a classroom aide, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step classroom aide hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a classroom aide job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new classroom aide
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a classroom aide do?

Classroom aides or teacher's aides are found in special education centers and schools. Some of their many roles include supervising field trips, attendance checking, and preparing classroom materials. They help the teachers by assisting students who need extra attention to keep up with the lessons. Being very patient and proficient in ASL are skills that all of them need to have, especially when working with students in the special education spectrum. They should be very critical to detail to accurately track the progress of the student under their supervision and discuss them with the teachers and parents.

Learn more about the specifics of what a classroom aide does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your classroom aide job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a classroom aide for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect classroom aide also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list shows salaries for various types of classroom aides.

    Type of Classroom AideDescriptionHourly rate
    Classroom AideTeacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.$11-16
    Pre-K TeacherPre-K teachers play an essential role in the lives of young children ages three to five years old by developing and nurturing their interest in subjects appropriate for their age. They promote a creative learning environment and encourage social interactions among students while providing the fundamental educational foundation that will prepare them for a successful start to kindergarten... Show more$13-27
    ESL TeacherAn ESL teacher specializes in teaching the English language to non-native speakers of all ages, usually in a virtual setting. Their responsibilities revolve around devising lesson plans, organizing learning materials, evaluating progress, and coming up with strategies to make learners feel comfortable... Show more$19-32
    Show more

  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Autism
    • CPR
    • Classroom Environment
    • Behavior Management
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • Classroom Management
    • IEP
    • Behavioral Issues
    • Applied Behavior Analysis
    • CPI
    • Data Collection
    • Paraprofessional
    • Behavior Analysis
    • ABA
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Run daily ABA programs with students to reach specific goals and milestones.
    • Provide ABA discrete trial teaching to all classroom children under the direction of certify classroom teacher.
    • Assist autistic and learning-disable students in scholastic aspects including assignments, mathematics, specials, and classroom activities.
    • Provide one-on-one individualize support for students with specific IEP's.
    • Differentiate literacy and mathematics instruction, scaffold and reinforce skills in creative, structure activities
    • Help implement developmentally appropriate educational activities aim toward identify objectives and goals create for the student base on IEP.
    More classroom aide duties

  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your classroom aide job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A classroom aide can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, classroom aides' average salary in florida is 36% less than in rhode island.
    • Seniority. Entry-level classroom aides 34% less than senior-level classroom aides.
    • Certifications. A classroom aide with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a classroom aide's salary.

    Average classroom aide salary

    $13.86hourly

    $28,832 yearly
    Entry-level classroom aide salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 19, 2025

    Average classroom aide salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$35,014$17
    2District of Columbia$32,946$16
    3California$32,882$16
    4Connecticut$31,481$15
    5Colorado$31,250$15
    6New York$31,240$15
    7Oregon$29,965$14
    8New Hampshire$29,606$14
    9Arizona$29,494$14
    10Utah$28,778$14
    11Illinois$28,639$14
    12Minnesota$27,721$13
    13Ohio$27,660$13
    14Idaho$26,901$13
    15Virginia$25,480$12
    16Wyoming$24,387$12

    Average classroom aide salary by company

  4. Writing a classroom aide job description

    A classroom aide job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a classroom aide job description:

    Classroom aide job description example

    Eliada Homes , a historical fixture within Western North Carolina since 1903, is one Asheville's longest running nonprofits. Our beautiful 300+ acre campus provides a cradle to career continuum of services for over 600 children and youth annually. Our staff, children, and families enjoy access to amenities such as therapeutic farm animals, hiking trails, pools, gymnasium, tennis courts, climbing walls, playgrounds, workout center, and gardens . Come join our mission centered staff in Helping Children Succeed!



    ABOUT ELIADA CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

    Child Development staff work with children up to 5 years of age by providing services which focus on social, emotional, cognitive, and motor development while integrating life-skills into our daily activities and lessons. Eliada's 5-Star accredited facility offers an amazing team focused atmosphere where you are able to learn and grow while making an impact in the lives of young students .


    Eliada Child Development staff qualify for tuition assistance, tuition reimbursement, and supplemental wages through programs within our agency and the state of North Carolina.


    Eliada Child Development staff also receive quarterly bonuses up to $1,000 in additional compensation.


    Requirements:

    Position Summary:

    Under the guidance of the Lead Teacher, the Classroom Aide assumes the Lead Teacher position in the absence of any Lead Teacher in every classroom throughout the day.


    Department: Child Development

    Status: Non-Exempt/Hourly

    Salary: $13.00 - $15.00 / hour

    Salary Determination: Education, Experience

    Benefits Eligible: Yes

    Bonus Structure: Quarterly



    Major Responsibilities:

    • Ensures that children's physical, emotional, and educational needs are met through close visual supervision and observation of group, frequent one-on-one interactions with individual children.
    • Maintains necessary classroom records/documents.
    • Ensures that licensing, safety, and sanitation standards are maintained in the classroom.
    • Seeks opportunities to further education and attends all relevant training necessary to meet annual in-service requirements.
    • Accepts additional duties and responsibilities and attends training and professional meetings as assigned and requested by the Assistant Director of Children's Services


    Qualifications:

    High school diploma or GED required.

    Must have Early Childhood credentials or enrolled in Early Childhood courses.

    Eliada Homes offsets all costs associated with needed childcare credentials!



    PI193324419

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right classroom aide for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your classroom aide job on Zippia to find and recruit classroom aide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.

  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit classroom aides, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new classroom aide

    Once you've selected the best classroom aide candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new classroom aide first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a classroom aide?

Before you start to hire classroom aides, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire classroom aides pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for classroom aides is $28,832 in the US. However, the cost of classroom aide hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a classroom aide for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $11 and $16 an hour.

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Updated December 19, 2025

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