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How to hire an instructional assistant

Instructional assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring instructional assistants in the United States:

  • There are a total of 134,938 instructional assistants in the US, and there are currently 50,185 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire an instructional assistant is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per instructional assistant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Las Vegas, NV, has the highest demand for instructional assistants, with 78 job openings.

How to hire an instructional assistant, step by step

To hire an instructional assistant, 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 assistant:

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

What does an instructional assistant do?

An instructional assistant's role is to assist teachers and faculty members by performing various tasks. Their responsibilities will involve managing and monitoring the classroom environment, crafting visual aids and informative presentations, preparing laboratories and equipment, grading papers, recording data, and organizing schedules. An instructional assistant may also teach short courses when a teacher is not around, and provide tutorial sessions to small groups. Furthermore, they may also perform administrative tasks such as producing progress reports and necessary documentation, taking attendance, and responding to calls and correspondence.

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

    Before you start hiring an instructional assistant, 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?

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

    The following list breaks down different types of instructional assistants and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Instructional AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    Instructional AssistantTeacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.$11-21
    Teacher InternshipTeaching interns are individuals who assist teachers and educators in the classroom. The interns are instructed to fulfill the tasks set out and provided by the supervisors for them... Show more$16-32
    Education ParaprofessionalAn education paraprofessional's role is to carry out support tasks for a teacher in a school setting. They are responsible for creating learning materials such as visual aids and presentations, participating in devising lesson plans and assessment methods, grading and evaluating student performances, and even maintaining order in the classroom... Show more$11-18
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CPR
    • Math
    • Instructional Materials
    • Mathematics
    • Behavioral Issues
    • Instructional Support
    • Behavior Management
    • IEP
    • Student Performance
    • Professional Development
    • Classroom Management
    • Instructional Assistance
    • Public Schools
    • Classroom Environment
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Assist teachers in the classroom environment for Pre-K-6 students with class materials, photocopying, correcting papers, clerical duties etc.
    • Substitute for Pre-K through 5th grade.
    • Assist lead teacher in a certify Montessori program.
    • Assist students in grades from kindergarten to high school.
    • Administer tests to determine if student continues in ESOL program.
    • Provide training skills to students to administer CPR safely and accurately.
    More instructional assistant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your instructional assistant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An instructional assistant 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 instructional assistant in Ohio may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level instructional assistant usually earns less than a senior-level instructional assistant. Additionally, an instructional assistant 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 instructional assistant salary

    $15.47hourly

    $32,170 yearly

    Entry-level instructional assistant salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025

    Average instructional assistant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Oregon$38,607$19
    2New York$37,693$18
    3Washington$36,855$18
    4California$35,920$17
    5Illinois$33,961$16
    6Wisconsin$32,522$16
    7Maryland$30,813$15
    8Nevada$30,113$14
    9Minnesota$30,101$14
    10Arizona$28,844$14
    11Colorado$28,607$14
    12Missouri$27,585$13
    13South Carolina$25,288$12
    14Kansas$24,576$12

    Average instructional assistant salary by company

  4. Writing an instructional assistant job description

    An instructional assistant 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 assistant job description:

    Instructional assistant job description example

    Cadets assist the ski/snowboard Instructors in the CLC with children ages 5-12 years of age as assigned by the Director, or CLC Base Coordinator. They will be called upon to assist the Director and the instructors of the CLC in an effort to create excellence in the Instructor and Cadet staff, providing a quality experience for the guests of Snow Valley Mountain Resort.

    Essential Functions/Physical Demands:

    • A large percentage of shift work is spent outside performing indicated duties, skiing and/or snowboarding, sometimes in extreme weather conditions and temperatures. Holidays and weekends are required at the discretion of the CLC Director. A minimum amount of days per month are required.
    • Frequent periods of standing, bending at the waist and neck, stooping, and repetitive use of hands/arms, including grasping, reaching, pulling and pushing
    • Occasional lifting and carrying of 20-35 pounds or more with assistance
    • Assisting with and attending to children, with duties including but not limited to; set - up / clean -up, and snack service.

    Experience/Training/Education:

    Required:

    • Must pass a post - offer / pre-employment ski and/or snowboard skills assessment
    • Must be at least 14 years old
    • May be required to pass a post-offer "fit for duty" physical exam and drug screening, provided by Snow Valley

    Knowledge/skills/abilities:

    Children Ski and Snowboard Cadets are to read and follow the Rules and Procedures set out in their Snow Valley Employee Handbook as well as the Snow Valley Ski & Snowboard Learning Center Guide. Have the ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with guests, staff and management. Have the ability to comply with policies and procedures; ability to prioritize, organize and complete tasks in a timely manner.

    Physical and Environmental Elements:

    Work may be strenuous at times and performed during inclement weather and on challenging terrain. The temperature can range from well below freezing to in excess of 80 degrees Fahrenheit with high winds, snow, rain, dense fog and intense sun. The terrain is often on uneven and icy ground. Protective equipment is strongly recommended including but not limited to full sun protection, eye protection, adequate clothing for conditions and expected conditions.

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right instructional 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 instructional assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit instructional assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit instructional assistants, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    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 assistant

    Once you have selected a candidate for the instructional assistant 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is 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.)
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How much does it cost to hire an instructional assistant?

Before you start to hire instructional assistants, 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 instructional assistants 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 $32,170 per year for an instructional assistant, 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 instructional assistants in the US typically range between $11 and $21 an hour.

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