How to hire an educational assistant

How to hire an educational assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step educational assistant 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 assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new educational assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an educational assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your educational assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an educational assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An educational assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, educational assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of educational assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Educational Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Educational Assistant	Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.	$9-22
   ESL Teacher	An ESL teacher specializes in teaching the English language to non-native speakers of all ages, usually in a virtual setting. Their responsibilities revolve around devising lesson plans, organizing learning materials, evaluating progress, and coming up with strategies to make learners feel comfortable... Show more	$19-32
   Classroom Aide	Classroom aides or teacher's aides are found in special education centers and schools. Some of their many roles include supervising field trips, attendance checking, and preparing classroom materials... Show more	$11-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPR
   • IEP
   • Direct Supervision
   • Behavioral Issues
   • Clerical Support
   • Autism
   • Instructional Materials
   • Education Plan
   • Kindergarten
   • Behavior Management
   • Mathematics
   • Learning Environment
   • Data Collection
   • Physical Education

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
   • Perform basic administrative tasks like photocopying student work displays etc.
   • Support class teachers in photocopying and other tasks in order to support teaching.
   • Used CPI blocks, restraints, and escorts when necessary to ensure the safety of students and staff.
   • Serve special needs Pre-K students in a PPCD classroom, under the direction of a certify classroom teacher.
   • Provide assistance to non-English speaking students

   More educational assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your educational assistant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An educational assistant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, educational assistants' average salary in wyoming is 45% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level educational assistants 57% less than senior-level educational assistants.
   • Certifications. An educational assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an educational assistant's salary.

   Average educational assistant salary

   $14.95hourly

   $31,100 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level educational assistant salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average educational assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$39,955	$19
   2	Illinois	$32,572	$16
   3	Pennsylvania	$32,442	$16
   4	New Jersey	$32,041	$15
   5	California	$31,775	$15
   6	Tennessee	$31,678	$15
   7	Washington	$31,638	$15
   8	Michigan	$30,294	$15
   9	Minnesota	$29,756	$14
   10	Oregon	$29,602	$14
   11	Wisconsin	$28,237	$14
   12	Missouri	$27,772	$13
   13	Texas	$26,951	$13
   14	Colorado	$26,815	$13
   15	Arizona	$26,438	$13
   16	Utah	$24,724	$12
   17	Iowa	$24,056	$12
   18	New Mexico	$23,849	$11

   Average educational assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Columbia University in the City of New York	$49,378	$23.74	1
   2	LaGuardia Community College	$44,527	$21.41
   3	Graduate School USA	$43,125	$20.73
   4	Bellevue Jr/Sr High School	$42,506	$20.44
   5	The University of Chicago	$41,164	$19.79	9
   6	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College	$39,017	$18.76	9
   7	Central Valley School District	$38,837	$18.67	7
   8	Pathfinder Ranch	$38,414	$18.47	2
   9	Robbinsdale Area Schools	$37,781	$18.16	27
   10	New York State Restaurant Association	$37,367	$17.96
   11	University of Wisconsin System	$35,086	$16.87	5
   12	University of Northern Colorado	$34,229	$16.46	9
   13	The City University of New York	$34,150	$16.42	22
   14	College of the Redwoods	$33,895	$16.30
   15	Cuesta College	$33,811	$16.26	3
   16	Rutgers University	$33,742	$16.22	57
   17	Nebraska Methodist Health System	$33,558	$16.13
   18	Housatonic Community College	$33,442	$16.08
   19	The Prairie School	$33,202	$15.96	2
   20	Mayo Clinic	$32,994	$15.86	7

4. Writing an educational assistant job description

   A good educational assistant 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 assistant job description:

   Educational assistant job description example

   CLASS TITLE: Bilingual Special Education Classroom Assistant
   
   CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS: Under the general direction of the school principal, and under the immediate supervision of a Special Education teacher holding a valid teaching certificate directly engaged in teaching subject matter or conducting activities, uses bilingual skills and assists in the instruction of disabled students; and performs related duties as required.
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Uses bilingual skills and assists Special Education teachers in elementary and high schools in reinforcing efforts with children with various disabilities, including physical disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, emotional impairments, and mental impairments in accordance with each students' Individual Education Program (IEP); lifts and positions non-ambulatory students during the school day as instructed by the teacher and in adherence to written instruction from students' personal physicians; provides one-on-one tutoring services for students to present or reinforce learning concepts; provides one-on-one personal hygiene services for students with severe disabilities, including toileting, changing soiled diapers, and cleaning soiled children regardless of age; assists students with orthopedic impairments by arranging and adjusting tools, work aids, and equipment used by students in classrooms, including but not limited to specially equipped worktables, positioning equipment, wheelchairs, tape recorders, computers, communication devices, and mechanized page turners; assists teacher in instructing students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and economic self-sufficiency; accompanies students to swimming pools and medical clinics to assist in removing clothing and performing other personal services which students are unable to perform themselves; assists in feeding students unable to do so themselves; takes notes in classrooms for students unable to do so themselves; corrects homework assignments and examination materials; assists teachers in maintaining written records of students' behavior; accompanies students and teachers on class field trips; attends and participates in workshops and in service training to update job related skills.
   
   MARGINAL FUNCTIONS: May utilize aggressive management techniques to physically restrain violent students, may administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as directed by the teacher, may operate audio-visual equipment, may operate photocopying equipment.
   
   DESIRABLE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   Training and Experience. Completion of an Associate's degree from a college or university accredited by the North Central Association or another regional accrediting body, or the successful completion of at least sixty (60) semester hours of college credit at a college or university accredited by the North Central Association or another regional accrediting body, including at least one course in the characteristics of mental retardation and severe/profound disabilities, or the successful completion of a state approved paraprofessional assessment, supplemented by at least one year of work experience involving the care and supervision of children with disabilities.
   
   Knowledge, Abilities, and Skill. Good knowledge of the characteristics of students with various disabilities, good knowledge of grammar and spelling in English and at least one other language, good knowledge of basic mathematics.
   
   Ability to work with and for students with various disabilities, ages birth to twenty-one (21) years of age; ability to follow written and oral instructions and direction; ability to complete and maintain basic written reports. (Ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is highly desirable. Individuals who do not provide evidence of the completion of training in CPR at the time of initial employment in this class title will complete CPR training as a condition of employment.). Ability to read, speak and write in English and at least one other language.
   
   Good oral and written communication skills in English and at least one other language, skill in the operation of photocopying and audio-visual equipment is highly desirable.
   
   Physical Requirements. Medium Work: Exerting up to fifty (50) pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to twenty (20) pounds of force frequently, and/or to ten (10) pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demands include the ability to reach, handle, and finger objects; talk and hear; occasional use of near visual acuity and frequent use of far visual acuity.
   
   '280995

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right educational assistant for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your educational assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit educational assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting educational assistants 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 assistant

   Once you've selected the best educational assistant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new educational assistant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)

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How much does it cost to hire an educational assistant?