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Best states for an education paraprofessional
Quoted expert
Dr. Michelle Powers
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for education paraprofessionals? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for education paraprofessional jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research shows that Delaware is the best state in the country for education paraprofessionals.
The median salary for education paraprofessionals in Delaware is $35,525. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $22,484, which ranked worst for education paraprofessionals, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Delaware is the best state for education paraprofessional jobs, whereas Arkansas is the worst.
10 best states for education paraprofessionals in 2026
1. Delaware
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 122 Average annual salary: $35,525 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. Massachusetts
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 585 Average annual salary: $37,916 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
3. New York
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 1,225 Average annual salary: $35,427 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
4. Connecticut
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 558 Average annual salary: $33,466 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 2.14
5. Minnesota
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 651 Average annual salary: $32,876 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Vermont
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $33,461 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
7. Alaska
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $34,098 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
8. Rhode Island
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $37,830 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
9. New Hampshire
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 234 Average annual salary: $31,636 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
10. Ohio
Total education paraprofessional jobs: 577 Average annual salary: $34,028 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
Education paraprofessional jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an education paraprofessional
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an education paraprofessional
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $35,525 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 122 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $37,916 | $30,000 | 6,859,819 | 585 |
| 3 | New York | $35,427 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,225 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $33,466 | $26,000 | 3,588,184 | 558 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $32,876 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 651 |
| 6 | Vermont | $33,461 | $27,000 | 623,657 | 70 |
| 7 | Alaska | $34,098 | $29,000 | 739,795 | 68 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $37,830 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 60 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $31,636 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 234 |
| 10 | Ohio | $34,028 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 577 |
| 11 | Illinois | $31,213 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,482 |
| 12 | Oregon | $33,180 | $26,000 | 4,142,776 | 283 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $34,162 | $25,000 | 693,972 | 157 |
| 14 | Maine | $32,218 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 81 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $32,500 | $26,000 | 755,393 | 38 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $29,597 | $22,000 | 12,805,537 | 941 |
| 17 | Maryland | $30,931 | $23,000 | 6,052,177 | 691 |
| 18 | Montana | $28,814 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 129 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $29,985 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 324 |
| 20 | Washington | $32,445 | $25,000 | 7,405,743 | 418 |
| 21 | California | $33,336 | $24,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,848 |
| 22 | Michigan | $28,470 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 712 |
| 23 | Nevada | $27,835 | $20,000 | 2,998,039 | 515 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $29,223 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 265 |
| 25 | Iowa | $29,144 | $22,000 | 3,145,711 | 237 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $29,782 | $22,000 | 1,815,857 | 41 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $30,421 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 266 |
| 28 | Virginia | $30,117 | $22,000 | 8,470,020 | 567 |
| 29 | Arizona | $26,701 | $19,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,040 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $33,944 | $28,000 | 1,427,538 | 19 |
| 31 | Colorado | $28,093 | $21,000 | 5,607,154 | 691 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $27,576 | $21,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,029 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $28,451 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 27 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $26,970 | $20,000 | 1,920,076 | 175 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $25,214 | $19,000 | 579,315 | 73 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $27,822 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 103 |
| 37 | Idaho | $26,663 | $20,000 | 1,716,943 | 113 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $26,742 | $19,000 | 10,273,419 | 624 |
| 39 | Missouri | $26,414 | $20,000 | 6,113,532 | 388 |
| 40 | Utah | $26,734 | $20,000 | 3,101,833 | 115 |
| 41 | Indiana | $24,183 | $18,000 | 6,666,818 | 491 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $24,005 | $17,000 | 5,024,369 | 307 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $22,853 | $16,000 | 2,088,070 | 208 |
| 44 | Texas | $24,071 | $17,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,376 |
| 45 | Kansas | $23,185 | $17,000 | 2,913,123 | 249 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $24,715 | $18,000 | 4,454,189 | 152 |
| 47 | Alabama | $23,955 | $17,000 | 4,874,747 | 168 |
| 48 | Florida | $22,053 | $15,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,132 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $23,189 | $16,000 | 4,684,333 | 168 |
| 50 | Georgia | $22,490 | $16,000 | 10,429,379 | 567 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $22,484 | $16,000 | 3,004,279 | 131 |
Highest paying states for education paraprofessionals
| Rank | State | Avg. Education Paraprofessional Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $35,525 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $37,916 |
| 3 | New York | $35,427 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $33,466 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $32,876 |
| 6 | Vermont | $33,461 |
| 7 | Alaska | $34,098 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $37,830 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $31,636 |
| 10 | Ohio | $34,028 |
| 11 | Illinois | $31,213 |
| 12 | Oregon | $33,180 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $34,162 |
| 14 | Maine | $32,218 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $32,500 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $29,597 |
| 17 | Maryland | $30,931 |
| 18 | Montana | $28,814 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $29,985 |
| 20 | Washington | $32,445 |
| 21 | California | $33,336 |
| 22 | Michigan | $28,470 |
| 23 | Nevada | $27,835 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $29,223 |
| 25 | Iowa | $29,144 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $29,782 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $30,421 |
| 28 | Virginia | $30,117 |
| 29 | Arizona | $26,701 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $33,944 |
| 31 | Colorado | $28,093 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $27,576 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $28,451 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $26,970 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $25,214 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $27,822 |
| 37 | Idaho | $26,663 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $26,742 |
| 39 | Missouri | $26,414 |
| 40 | Utah | $26,734 |
| 41 | Indiana | $24,183 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $24,005 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $22,853 |
| 44 | Texas | $24,071 |
| 45 | Kansas | $23,185 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $24,715 |
| 47 | Alabama | $23,955 |
| 48 | Florida | $22,053 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $23,189 |
| 50 | Georgia | $22,490 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $22,484 |
Expert opinions on the best states for education paraprofessionals
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for education paraprofessionals to find work opportunities?
Dr. Michelle Powers
Assistant Professor of Special Education, Augustana University
The field of education, including special education, is full of incredible and rewarding work opportunities, across the US, for new graduates. As our current teaching workforce begins to reach the age of retirement, more and more options are going to emerge. Whether you want to stay in your community or reach out for a new adventure, school districts need skilled professionals to lead their classrooms. Sometimes, places that recent graduates might not consider beginning their careers can turn out to be a great fit. Smaller, more rural communities embrace young professionals and can give them mentoring and support to grow their skills and expertise. I am unsure if new professionals consider the Midwest and the opportunities we present for them, but I would encourage any recent graduate to look at these areas. The school systems here are excellent, more diverse than you might expect, and are doing some fantastic things in their classrooms that would be exciting and rewarding for anyone who loves teaching.
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Updated January 8, 2025