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What is an education paraprofessional and how to become one
An Education Paraprofessional is basically a teacher's assistant in a school. They are tasked with making tools and maintaining order, generally, in the classroom. They tend to the student's needs and may even teach, under the supervision of a licensed teacher, that is.
Earning an average hourly wage of $14.00, which amounts to about $30,000 a year, they work hand-in-hand with the licensed teachers to care for, instill knowledge, and basically train the students in a conducive and adequate environment.
Education Paraprofessionals need some skills that critical thinking, communication, and resourcefulness are at the forefront. They may also be called into play when a health emergency arises, as they are trained quite efficiently to perform CPR and First Aid. They mostly major in Psychology with Elementary Education following closely, and a Bachelor's Degree is the degree of choice if you want to venture into the field. A master's degree is also very well appreciated, but it is not so common.
What general advice would you give to an education paraprofessional?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Avg. Salary $31,158
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.16%
Asian 8.29%
Black or African American 9.51%
Hispanic or Latino 16.29%
Unknown 4.38%
White 60.38%
Genderfemale 80.31%
male 19.69%
Age - 45American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 45Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is basic
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Education paraprofessional career paths
Key steps to become an education paraprofessional
Explore education paraprofessional education requirements
Start to develop specific education paraprofessional skills
Skills Percentages Autism 10.17% Behavioral Issues 9.22% Mathematics 8.18% Math 8.12% Instructional Materials 7.82% Gain additional education paraprofessional certifications
More About CertificationsEducation paraprofessional certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific education paraprofessional certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for education paraprofessionals include Medical Assistant and Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).
Research education paraprofessional duties and responsibilities
- Work with ESL and special needs students, individually and in small groups, to attain their learning objectives
- Help student become more independent and achieve organizational goals by using self-monitore checklists and adaptive technology.
- Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
- Perform technical, clerical and instructional support tasks in a Pre-K classroom for the physically impair
Prepare your education paraprofessional resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your education paraprofessional resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an education paraprofessional resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable education paraprofessional resume templates
Build a professional education paraprofessional resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your education paraprofessional resume.
Apply for education paraprofessional jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an education paraprofessional job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first education paraprofessional job
Are you an education paraprofessional?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average education paraprofessional salary
The average education paraprofessional salary in the United States is $31,158 per year or $15 per hour. Education paraprofessional salaries range between $24,000 and $39,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do education paraprofessionals rate their job?
Education paraprofessional reviews
Helping students with various intellectual or behavior disabilities to be successful in the classroom and in life.
As a paraprofessional, you often get left out of Professional Development activities, vertical team meetings, etc. and have a limited capacity to influence educational decisions within the organization.
The kids light up my days.
The demand and low pay. Teachers have families, too.
You got to work with learners who will love you unconditionally. It gives a great satisfaction to be able to help them. I love learners with Special Needs and I am a Mom of one.
I can't say, maybe because there is none.
Updated January 8, 2025
