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Educational aid vs classroom assistant

The differences between educational aids and classroom assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an educational aid has an average salary of $29,988, which is higher than the $27,801 average annual salary of a classroom assistant.

The top three skills for an educational aid include behavior management, CPR and instructional materials. The most important skills for a classroom assistant are CPR, mathematics, and photocopying.

Educational aid vs classroom assistant overview

Educational AidClassroom Assistant
Yearly salary$29,988$27,801
Hourly rate$14.42$13.37
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs71,04349,273
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

What does an educational aid do?

An educational aide is needed to thoroughly manage and assess children's development and learning. They help teachers monitor students' development and class standing. They provide hands-on tutoring to children in need of additional study courses. They also help teachers develop lesson plans, assist with distributing handouts, and collect homework. They can act as teachers when the lead teacher is absent. To make learning lively, they help in room beautification and cleanliness.

What does a classroom assistant do?

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.

Educational aid vs classroom assistant salary

Educational aids and classroom assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Educational AidClassroom Assistant
Average salary$29,988$27,801
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $37,000Between $22,000 And $34,000
Highest paying CityFairfield, CABelmont, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMassachusetts
Best paying companyPoint Loma Nazarene UniversityUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryEducationTechnology

Differences between educational aid and classroom assistant education

There are a few differences between an educational aid and a classroom assistant in terms of educational background:

Educational AidClassroom Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Educational aid vs classroom assistant demographics

Here are the differences between educational aids' and classroom assistants' demographics:

Educational AidClassroom Assistant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 23.0% Female, 77.0%Male, 19.3% Female, 80.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 7.8% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%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%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between educational aid and classroom assistant duties and responsibilities

Educational aid example responsibilities.

  • Assist in achieving and maintain DOD certification and national accreditation where applicable.
  • Receive training and certification in CPR and CPI, non-violent crisis intervention.
  • Assist teacher in daily curriculum for Pre-K students
  • Certify in CPR and first aid for adults, children and infants.
  • Assist the kindergarten teacher in conducting children's progress reports throughout the year.
  • Used ABA therapy to work with children who have behavior and emotional disorders.
  • Show more

Classroom assistant example responsibilities.

  • Lead chemistry recitations, prepare lessons, and coordinate student problem solving sessions.
  • Work at PTA and PTO events in various capacities.
  • Support the educational growth of elementary school students by working with small groups in math, language arts, and science.
  • Provide support to kindergarten classroom teacher through individual reading intervention and math assistance
  • Direct group activities within learning centers emphasizing spatial recognition, understanding patterns of colors and numbers for kindergarten class.
  • Work with ESE, VPK, and Pre-K, students.
  • Show more

Educational aid vs classroom assistant skills

Common educational aid skills
  • Behavior Management, 16%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Instructional Materials, 7%
  • Physical Education, 6%
  • Child Guidance, 5%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
Common classroom assistant skills
  • CPR, 25%
  • Mathematics, 20%
  • Photocopying, 17%
  • IEP, 12%
  • Homework Assignments, 8%
  • Child Care, 3%

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