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How to hire an educational aid

Educational aid hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring educational aids in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire an educational aid is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per educational aid on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 28,046 educational aids in the US and 71,043 job openings.
  • Keller, TX, has the highest demand for educational aids, with 8 job openings.
  • Washington, DC has the highest concentration of educational aids.

How to hire an educational aid, step by step

To hire an educational aid, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a educational aid:

Here's a step-by-step educational aid hiring guide:

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

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what an educational aid does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring an educational aid, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

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

    Hiring the perfect educational aid 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 educational aids.

    Type of Educational AidDescriptionHourly rate
    Educational AidTeacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.$11-17
    Child Care TeacherA child care teacher is responsible for educating young learners, observing their personal and social behaviors. They also prepare engaging and fun activities for the children, ensuring their safety and security... Show more$6-21
    Student InternshipStudent interns are student trainees in a company. They undergo on-the-job training as it may be required by their degree program in order to graduate... Show more$10-21
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Behavior Management
    • CPR
    • Instructional Materials
    • Physical Education
    • Child Guidance
    • Crisis Intervention
    • IEP
    • Safety Rules
    • Kindergarten
    • Independent Study
    • Mathematics
    • Learning Environment
    • Computer Programs
    • Educational Support
    Check all skills
    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.
    More educational aid duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your educational aid job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An educational aid salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for an educational aid in Kentucky may be lower than in California, and an entry-level educational aid usually earns less than a senior-level educational aid. Additionally, an educational aid with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average educational aid salary

    $14.42hourly

    $29,988 yearly

    Entry-level educational aid salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 18, 2026

    Average educational aid salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$34,684$17
    2Connecticut$29,401$14
    3New York$29,200$14
    4Pennsylvania$28,315$14
    5Ohio$28,245$14
    6Arizona$28,018$13
    7Alaska$27,588$13
    8Texas$26,450$13
    9Kansas$26,052$13
    10Virginia$24,904$12
    11Georgia$24,637$12
    12Tennessee$23,479$11
    13South Carolina$23,189$11
    14Florida$22,714$11

    Average educational aid salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Point Loma Nazarene University$38,523$18.521
    2Avon High School$31,817$15.3012
    3Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium$30,898$14.85
    4West Covina USD$29,865$14.364
    5Hillsdale College$29,624$14.24
    6Youth Villages$29,323$14.10
    7Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland$29,151$14.01
    8PSI Solutions$29,087$13.98
    9Hudson High School$28,947$13.9218
    10Rachel Wixey & Associates$28,915$13.90
    11Dodea$28,820$13.86
    12Baker Victory Services$28,818$13.85
    13Res-Care Premier$28,782$13.849
    14HealthPRO$28,760$13.834
    15Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools$28,759$13.834
    16Irving Isd$28,166$13.5422
    17Grand Canyon University$27,713$13.329
    18City of Garden City$27,632$13.28
    19Lompoc Unified School District$27,591$13.261
    20Baptist Child & Family Service$27,499$13.22
  4. Writing an educational aid job description

    A good educational aid job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an educational aid job description:

    Educational aid job description example

    Job DescriptionSalary: $15.50

    The Farmworker Institute of Education and Leadership Development (FIELD), is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. FIELD was founded in 1978 by Farmworker Leader Cesar E. Chavez and is dedicated to strengthening America’s agricultural and rural communities through our Core Values of Opportunity, Excellence, Integrity, Innovation and Si Se Puede. FIELD carries out its mission through a continuum of educational and workforce development programs that assist underserved communities in achieving empowerment, self-sufficiency, and a better quality of life. FIELD has realigned our training and education to promote career pathways for adult learners. This includes work experience opportunities in Environmental Conservation, Energy, Education, Entrepreneurship and Civic Action.

    FIELD’s Purpose is to “To Empower the Underserved to be Self-Sufficient.”


    SUMMARY

    Under the guidance and supervision of the Site Supervisor the ECE Instructional Aide will assist in the planning, preparation, and performance of all duties under their responsibility, and monitor children enrolled in FIELD ECE Child Care Centers at all times. The successful candidate will report to the ECE Site Supervisor, help volunteers and substitutes on jobsite. This is a hands-on role and will require performing tasks associated with the assistance in the instruction and supervision of ECE children. The individual working in this role will be responsible for providing a meaningful, nurturing, and safe environment to all children enrolled in the center.


    ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to the following: Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

    ∙ Assist the ECE teacher in the preschool classroom, as required.

    ∙ Assist the ECE teacher in preparation and implementation of developmentally appropriate classroom activities.

    ∙ Assist in daily progress notes, maintenance of files and reports.

    ∙ Maintain classroom and equipment including cleaning of toys furniture and facilities as necessary.

    ∙ Participate in preschool in-service and committee activities as directed.

    ∙ May be required to perform duties at different preschool sites.

    ∙ Attend classroom staff meetings and program professional development trainings.

    ∙Follow all Head Start performance standards, State Preschool funding terms and conditions, and Title 22 licensing requirements (as applicable).

    ∙ Collaborate with and assist volunteers as needed.

    ∙ Perform other related duties as assigned.


    SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

    ∙ None.


    QUALIFICATIONS

    To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    ∙ Knowledge of subject matter/course content and resources relevant to assignment.

    ∙Knowledge of and skills in using effective instructional strategies and practices.

    ∙Skills in managing and promoting positive student behavior.

    ∙ Skills in data analysis to assess, monitor, and inform instruction for student growth.

    ∙Skills in organization, time management, and record keeping.

    ∙ Ability to operate a computer.

    ∙ Possess the skills needed to learn and utilize software and other technology in ECE instruction.

    ∙ Ability to effectively address and meet a wide range of academic, social/emotional and developmental needs for all types of learners.

    ∙ Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with other professionals in a team setting.

    ∙ Ability to maintain confidentiality.

    ∙ Knowledge and consistent practice of the ethical guidelines as outlined by FIELD, federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.

    ∙ Ability to assist with developing the program.

    ∙ Ability to contribute expertise in the development and implementation of policies, procedures and standards in the area of expertise.

    ∙ Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.


    MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

    • Must have tuberculosis (TB) clearance or obtain TB clearance before beginning work.
    • Must be able to pass fingerprinting (Live Scan) and criminal record clearance by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).


    EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

    ∙ High School Diploma, or equivalent, required.

    ∙ Minimum six (6) ECE units from an accredited college.

    ∙ Must have knowledge of Title 22 requirements

    ∙ Previous experience working in an ECE class setting, preferred.


    CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

    ∙ Must have a current CPR and First Aid certificate, or be able to complete the training within thirty (30) days from hire date.

    ∙ Must have valid driver’s license and personal automobile insurance.

    ∙ Must work towards attaining Child Development Teacher Assistant permit from the California Teacher Credentialing department through continued education and professional development.


    TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

    Must be able to travel as needed/required


    LANGUAGE SKILLS

    ∙ Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents, reports, etc.
    ∙ Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required.


    PHYSICAL DEMANDS

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to stand, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close supervision.


    WORK ENVIRONMENT

    The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    Primarily works in a classroom environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to outside weather conditions and risk of electrical shock.

  5. Post your job

    To find educational aids for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any educational aids they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level educational aids with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your educational aid job on Zippia to find and recruit educational aid candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting educational aids requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    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 educational aid

    Once you have selected a candidate for the educational aid position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  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 an educational aid?

Before you start to hire educational aids, 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 educational aids pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $29,988 per year for an educational aid, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for educational aids in the US typically range between $11 and $17 an hour.

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