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The differences between para educators and school aides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a para educator has an average salary of $31,394, which is higher than the $29,896 average annual salary of a school aide.
The top three skills for a para educator include behavioral issues, student performance and IEP. The most important skills for a school aide are CPR, role model, and direct supervision.
| Para Educator | School Aide | |
| Yearly salary | $31,394 | $29,896 |
| Hourly rate | $15.09 | $14.37 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 56,897 | 69,231 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 1 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Paraeducators' primary role is to provide students with extra guidance and support outside or inside the classroom. They are also called paraprofessional educators or teaching assistants who are expected to support teachers. In small group activities, they take the lead permitting teachers to help their students in many ways. The necessary skills required include organization, intellectual curiosity, and being calm. They should also be creative, a team player, and knowledgeable. A bachelor's degree in education is also a necessity for this job.
School aides assist teachers in supervising students throughout the school year. The aides help teachers in their record-keeping tasks like grading assignments and taking attendance in class. Some of them help teachers keep the class running smoothly, while others work with students with special needs. They attend staff meetings, in-service training, and school programs. It is part of their job to establish spreadsheets and databases to improve the inventory management of tuition payments and uniforms. They also apply planning, prioritization, and project management skills toward achieving deadlines while they maintain high-quality standards.
Para educators and school aides have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Para Educator | School Aide | |
| Average salary | $31,394 | $29,896 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $22,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Belmont, CA | Brentwood, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Central Valley School District | St. Clare Catholic School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a para educator and a school aide in terms of educational background:
| Para Educator | School Aide | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between para educators' and school aides' demographics:
| Para Educator | School Aide | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% | Male, 27.4% Female, 72.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.5% Asian, 7.4% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |