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What is a kindergarten teacher assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Diana Jones
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a kindergarten teacher assistant. For example, did you know that they make an average of $13.9 an hour? That's $28,914 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 55,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a kindergarten teacher assistant?

Dr. Diana JonesDr. Diana Jones LinkedIn profile

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

General advice: I would encourage graduates to find a mentor who can guide them in their careers, stay on top of the latest technology, not be too hard on themselves, be flexible, be team players, be present, and care about their students.
ScoreKindergarten Teacher AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.3

Avg. Salary $28,914

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.5

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.37%

Asian 8.27%

Black or African American 10.92%

Hispanic or Latino 18.50%

Unknown 4.65%

White 56.29%

Gender

female 89.34%

male 10.66%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress level
4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.5

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Kindergarten teacher assistant career paths

Key steps to become a kindergarten teacher assistant

  1. Explore kindergarten teacher assistant education requirements

    Most common kindergarten teacher assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    58.1 %

    Associate

    18.3 %

    High School Diploma

    10.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific kindergarten teacher assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Mathematics12.76%
    Classroom Management10.93%
    Language Arts9.82%
    Classroom Environment9.27%
    Instructional Materials7.14%
  3. Gain additional kindergarten teacher assistant certifications

    Kindergarten teacher assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific kindergarten teacher assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for kindergarten teacher assistants include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

    More About Certifications
  4. Research kindergarten teacher assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
    • Serve as temporary pre-k teacher for maternity leave.
    • Contribute to IEP meetings and updating students IEP 's
    • Teach phonics and beginning reading and math to ESL students.
  5. Prepare your kindergarten teacher assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your kindergarten teacher assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a kindergarten teacher assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable kindergarten teacher assistant resume templates

    Build a professional kindergarten teacher assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your kindergarten teacher assistant resume.
    Kindergarten Teacher Assistant Resume
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    Kindergarten Teacher Assistant Resume
    Kindergarten Teacher Assistant Resume
    Kindergarten Teacher Assistant Resume
    Kindergarten Teacher Assistant Resume
    Kindergarten Teacher Assistant Resume
    Kindergarten Teacher Assistant Resume
  6. Apply for kindergarten teacher assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a kindergarten teacher assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first kindergarten teacher assistant job

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Average kindergarten teacher assistant salary

The average kindergarten teacher assistant salary in the United States is $28,914 per year or $14 per hour. Kindergarten teacher assistant salaries range between $19,000 and $43,000 per year.

Average kindergarten teacher assistant salary
$28,914 Yearly
$13.90 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do kindergarten teacher assistants rate their job?

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Kindergarten teacher assistant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2022
Pros

Seeing the kids learn, grow, over come challenges.

Cons

It can be emotionally and physically draining, especially if not appreciated.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Pros

Gaining the childs trust and watching them geow and learn.

Cons

That in a year the children you fall in love with move on to the next grade.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days

Cons

Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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