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How to hire an instructional aide

Instructional aide hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring instructional aides 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 instructional aide is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per instructional aide on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 329,611 instructional aides in the US and 60,846 job openings.
  • Los Angeles, CA, has the highest demand for instructional aides, with 12 job openings.
  • Bakersfield, CA has the highest concentration of instructional aides.

How to hire an instructional aide, step by step

To hire an instructional aide, 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 instructional aide:

Here's a step-by-step instructional aide hiring guide:

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

What does an instructional aide do?

An instructional aide focuses on performing support-related tasks for a teacher or faculty member. They are primarily responsible for helping teachers maintain a safe and healthy learning environment, recording attendance, creating visual aids or presentations, participating in the preparation of lesson plans and tests, and assisting students who are having difficulties in a particular task or lesson. An instructional aide may also take part in counseling and supervising students' behavior during class activities, all while adhering to the school's policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what an instructional aide does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your instructional aide 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 instructional aide 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?

    An instructional aide's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, instructional aides 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.

    This list presents instructional aide salaries for various positions.

    Type of Instructional AideDescriptionHourly rate
    Instructional AideTeacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.$11-18
    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
    Pre-K TeacherPre-K teachers play an essential role in the lives of young children ages three to five years old by developing and nurturing their interest in subjects appropriate for their age. They promote a creative learning environment and encourage social interactions among students while providing the fundamental educational foundation that will prepare them for a successful start to kindergarten... Show more$13-27
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Work Ethic
    • CPR
    • Math
    • Instructional Materials
    • Mathematics
    • Direct Supervision
    • IEP
    • Instructional Support
    • Behavioral Issues
    • Behavior Management
    • Classroom Management
    • Data Collection
    • PowerPoint
    • Classroom Environment
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Help ESL students achieve their academic goals while they learn a new language and adapt to a new community and culture.
    • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
    • Provide individualize education to students with autism base on the science of apply behavior analysis.
    • Implement IEP accommodations through modification of curriculum and classroom environment for students with moderate disabilities in a variety of inclusion classes.
    • Certify to provide crisis intervention (CPI).
    • Observe and supervise children grades k-12 at all times.
    More instructional aide duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, instructional aides' average salary in florida is 36% less than in massachusetts.
    • Seniority. Entry-level instructional aides 37% less than senior-level instructional aides.
    • Certifications. An instructional aide 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 instructional aide's salary.

    Average instructional aide salary

    $14.90hourly

    $30,993 yearly

    Entry-level instructional aide salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 18, 2025

    Average instructional aide salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Ohio$32,810$16
    2California$32,573$16
    3Pennsylvania$29,387$14
    4Wisconsin$28,317$14
    5Missouri$27,965$13
    6Arizona$27,414$13
    7Texas$26,672$13
    8Michigan$26,342$13
    9Nebraska$25,875$12
    10Georgia$23,720$11
    11Kansas$23,538$11

    Average instructional aide salary by company

  4. Writing an instructional aide job description

    An instructional aide job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an instructional aide job description:

    Instructional aide job description example

    • Vision : Ability to read small print and view a computer screen for prolonged periods.
    • Hearing : Ability to answer telephones and tolerate exposure to noisy conditions.
    • Speech : Ability to be understood in face-to-face communications; to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone.
    • Upper Body Mobility : Ability to use hands and fingers to feel, grasp, and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower head.
    • Strength : Ability to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects which weigh as much as 5 or more pounds on a frequent basis. Incumbent may be required to physically restrain parties involved in a conflict.
    • Environmental Requirements : Ability to encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors.
    • Mental Requirements : Ability to read, write, understand, interpret and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgment and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile and coordinate information and records.

    Purpose Built Schools Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer

    Purpose Built Schools Atlanta assures Equal Employment Opportunities and equal education opportunities for employees and students as required by Federal and State Orders and Laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks. This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements. However, management and administration reserve the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right instructional aide for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with instructional aides they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit instructional aides who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your instructional aide job on Zippia to find and recruit instructional aide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit instructional aides, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 instructional aide

    Once you've decided on a perfect instructional aide candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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 instructional aide. 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 instructional aide?

Hiring an instructional aide comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting instructional aides involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of instructional aide recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for instructional aides is $30,993 in the US. However, the cost of instructional aide hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring an instructional aide for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $11 and $18 an hour.

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