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The differences between classroom assistants and school aides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school aide has an average salary of $29,896, which is higher than the $27,801 average annual salary of a classroom assistant.
The top three skills for a classroom assistant include CPR, mathematics and photocopying. The most important skills for a school aide are CPR, role model, and direct supervision.
| Classroom Assistant | School Aide | |
| Yearly salary | $27,801 | $29,896 |
| Hourly rate | $13.37 | $14.37 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 49,273 | 69,231 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 1 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A classroom assistant is responsible for monitoring the class activities and the students' learning progress under the command of a head instructor. Classroom assistants help the teachers in conducting engaging learning activities, creating comprehensive lesson plans, and gathering educational materials to support the students' needs. They take the initiative on observing the class when the teacher is away, leaving them activities to work on as the teacher instructed. A classroom assistant must have excellent communication and organization skills, as they also serve as a liaison between the students and the teacher for inquiries and concerns.
School aides assist teachers in supervising students throughout the school year. The aides help teachers in their record-keeping tasks like grading assignments and taking attendance in class. Some of them help teachers keep the class running smoothly, while others work with students with special needs. They attend staff meetings, in-service training, and school programs. It is part of their job to establish spreadsheets and databases to improve the inventory management of tuition payments and uniforms. They also apply planning, prioritization, and project management skills toward achieving deadlines while they maintain high-quality standards.
Classroom assistants and school aides have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Classroom Assistant | School Aide | |
| Average salary | $27,801 | $29,896 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $34,000 | Between $22,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Belmont, MA | Brentwood, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | St. Clare Catholic School |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Education |
There are a few differences between a classroom assistant and a school aide in terms of educational background:
| Classroom Assistant | School Aide | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between classroom assistants' and school aides' demographics:
| Classroom Assistant | School Aide | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.3% Female, 80.7% | Male, 27.4% Female, 72.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.5% Asian, 7.4% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |