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Job outlook for para professionals in the United States
Para professional job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected para professional job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 55,400 new jobs for para professionals are projected over the next decade.
Para professional salaries have increased 14% for para professionals in the last 5 years.
There are over 58,605 para professionals currently employed in the United States.
There are 90,689 active para professional job openings in the US.
The average para professional salary is $28,118.
Are para professional jobs in demand?
Para professional job and salary trends over time
Para professional jobs over time
Para professional job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58,605 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 63,151 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 66,363 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 59,602 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 58,207 | 0.02% |
Average para professional salary over time
Para professional salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,118 | $13.52 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $27,155 | $13.06 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $26,256 | $12.62 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $25,565 | $12.29 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | $24,738 | $11.89 | +2.0% |
Para professional jobs by state
Most common states for para professionals
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 961,939 | 334 | 35% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 178 | 31% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,651 | 30% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 185 | 30% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 365 | 27% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 201 | 27% |
| 7 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 182 | 26% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 803 | 22% |
| 9 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 659 | 22% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,185 | 21% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 282 | 21% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 227 | 21% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 225 | 21% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,388 | 20% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 170 | 20% |
| 16 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,361 | 19% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,138 | 19% |
| 18 | Alaska | 739,795 | 138 | 19% |
| 19 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 568 | 18% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 350 | 18% |
Most common cities for para professionals
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winter Garden | 2 | 5% | $20,773 |
| 2 | Apopka | 2 | 4% | $20,769 |
| 3 | Ocoee | 2 | 4% | $20,772 |
| 4 | Monrovia | 1 | 3% | $32,461 |
| 5 | Mundelein | 1 | 3% | $27,908 |
| 6 | Plainfield | 1 | 3% | $24,985 |
| 7 | Winter Park | 1 | 3% | $20,768 |
| 8 | Alpharetta | 1 | 2% | $23,252 |
| 9 | Catonsville | 1 | 2% | $24,115 |
| 10 | Orlando | 3 | 1% | $20,770 |
| 11 | Huntsville | 1 | 1% | $23,317 |
| 12 | Silver Spring | 1 | 1% | $23,716 |
| 13 | Worcester | 1 | 1% | $37,030 |
Para Professional job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of para professional experts
Springfield College
Berry College
Missouri State University
Boston College
Nicholls State University
Chatham University
Dr. Linda Davis-Delano
Director, Educator Preparation & Licensure, Professor, Physical EducationSpringfield College
Educator Preparation
What skills stand out on Para Professional resumes?
Dr. Linda Davis-Delano: Ability to teach remotely and use a variety of pedagogical techniques including the use of a variety of technological platforms (e.g., YouTube, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Nearpod, Kahoot, Brainpop, TedEd).
What skills stand out on Para Professional resumes?
Dr. Frances Roe: In my opinion, student teachers must include language at the top of their resume that aligns with the language listed in the advertisement for the teaching position. The HR Department of most school districts receive the resumes first. The personnel in HR sorts the resumes according to their needs, so graduates should state near the top of their resumes skills that align with the school district's needs. Also, they should highlight that they have had experience teaching virtually. All of our graduates have had some experience in this area. Virtual teaching is likely a trend that will be with us for a while.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Para Professionals to find work opportunities?
Dr. Frances Roe: Urban and large suburban areas are typically excellent places to our graduates to find teaching jobs. Large districts such as Hamilton County in Chattanooga, Cobb, and Gwinnet Counties in Georgia, as well as our local school districts are regulars at our Teacher Recruitment Fairs. The districts are holding their own district teacher recruitment fairs earlier and earlier in hopes of hiring our graduates. It is not usual for districts of various sizes to either email or call me asking for help finding certified teachers in the areas I identified earlier.
What skills stand out on Para Professional resumes?
Dr. Ximena Uribe-Zarain: Graduates of programs in the realm of educational assessment, program evaluation, and research in education tend to excel at critically evaluating social issues, and at using sophisticated methodologies to solve such issues. They are prepared to understand psychometric theory and to implement program evaluation. All of these are good skills to highlight. However, we cannot forget that graduates are more often than not avid users of technologies capable of navigating complex research and statistical software. I believe that highlighting technological skills (quantitative and qualitative analysis software, programming, use of VPN, etc.) is a good bet, especially now that working from home is so prevalent. Also, it is important to mention that being a good communicator could be the deciding factor, especially as we are communicating clearly and professionally more and more often using different media.
Tim Klein
MSW, True North LeadBoston College
Lynch School Of Education and Human Development
What skills stand out on Para Professional resumes?
Tim Klein: This market shift will influence the skills that employers are looking for. Specifically, this will put a premium on universal human skills-skills that cannot be replaced by technology. Companies will be looking for three types of workers who possess different universal human skills-they will want innovators who are creative, critical thinkers adept at navigating uncertainty. They will want facilitators, who are skilled communicators and expert relationship builders. They will want executors-people who are incredibly responsible, accountable and trustworthy. The good news is that interdisciplinary studies provides ample opportunity for students to become innovators, facilitators and executors. Because these skills are not domain specific, students with an interdisciplinary background could really excel in a variety of fields, from healthcare, to tech, to education. Recent college graduate ability to successfully enter the workforce will depend on their ability to "self-credential"-that is, effectively tell the story of how they developed universal human skills through their college education, and show how those skills will transfer to success in the workforce.
Karen Cheramie
Interdisciplinary Studies Program CoordinatorNicholls State University
English, Modern Languages & Cultural Studies Department
What skills stand out on Para Professional resumes?
Karen Cheramie: Make sure your future employers know the impact you can make in the job. Check on your transferable skills. Be flexible and adaptable.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Para Professionals to find work opportunities?
Karen Cheramie: Nicholls' IDST alumni have always had an endless number of careers to choose from. Positions in Business, Education, Political Science, Law Enforcement, Banking, Human Resources, Social Service, and so much more are within their reach.
Christie Lewis
Assistant Professor of Education, Field CoordinatorChatham University
Education Department
What experience really stands out on Para Professional resumes?
Christie Lewis: I believe that graduates that go above and beyond the "check the box" really stand out. What I mean by this is that graduates who have been involved in the school and that became part of the school community really stand out. Perhaps a graduate volunteered to help with events at the school, started a tutoring club, and/or participated and did other things than teach in the classroom stands out. In addition, I think that volunteering in the community and also participating in teacher professional development really stands out. These things show that a graduate is excited and passionate.