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Job outlook for paraprofessional aides in the United States
Paraprofessional aide job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected paraprofessional aide job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 55,400 new jobs for paraprofessional aides are projected over the next decade.
Paraprofessional aide salaries have increased 14% for paraprofessional aides in the last 5 years.
There are over 216,641 paraprofessional aides currently employed in the United States.
There are 78,214 active paraprofessional aide job openings in the US.
The average paraprofessional aide salary is $29,897.
Are paraprofessional aide jobs in demand?
Paraprofessional aide job and salary trends over time
Paraprofessional aide jobs over time
Paraprofessional aide job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 216,641 | 0.06% |
| 2020 | 233,698 | 0.07% |
| 2019 | 245,754 | 0.07% |
| 2018 | 220,449 | 0.07% |
| 2017 | 215,191 | 0.07% |
Average paraprofessional aide salary over time
Paraprofessional aide salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $29,897 | $14.37 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $28,874 | $13.88 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $27,918 | $13.42 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $27,183 | $13.07 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $26,303 | $12.65 | +2.0% |
Paraprofessional aide jobs by state
Most common states for paraprofessional aides
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 143 | 14% |
| 2 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 795 | 12% |
| 3 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 311 | 11% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 552 | 10% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 315 | 10% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 187 | 10% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 115 | 9% |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 961 | 8% |
| 9 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 801 | 8% |
| 10 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 112 | 8% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 61 | 8% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 881 | 7% |
| 13 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 647 | 7% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 475 | 7% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 420 | 7% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 55 | 7% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 46 | 7% |
| 18 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 41 | 7% |
| 19 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,135 | 6% |
| 20 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 643 | 6% |
Most common cities for paraprofessional aides
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owings Mills | 1 | 3% | $26,426 |
| 2 | Eden Prairie | 1 | 2% | $25,967 |
| 3 | Harrisburg | 1 | 2% | $26,667 |
| 4 | Shawnee | 1 | 2% | $26,663 |
| 5 | Towson | 1 | 2% | $26,457 |
| 6 | Boston | 7 | 1% | $31,606 |
| 7 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $26,415 |
Paraprofessional Aide job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of paraprofessional aide experts
Longwood University
Springfield College
Berry College
Missouri State University
Nicholls State University
Chatham University
Dr. Audrey Church Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Education and Counseling; Professor of School LibrarianshipLongwood University
Education
What will help Paraprofessional Aides increase their earning potential?
Dr. Audrey Church Ph.D.: For those entering their first teaching position, I would give the following advice:
--Be sure that you are familiar with the policies of your school and school district. You want to be well-informed and knowledgeable so that you know what is expected of you as a teaching professional.
--Start immediately to build relationships with others on your team-your grade level team, your department team, etc.
--Become active in the professional association of your field, starting perhaps at the state level, for example, with the state affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English or the Council for Exceptional Children or the American Association of School Librarians.
Dr. Linda Davis-Delano
Director, Educator Preparation & Licensure, Professor, Physical EducationSpringfield College
Educator Preparation
What skills stand out on Paraprofessional Aide 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).
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Paraprofessional Aides 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 are the biggest trends we'll see in the Paraprofessional Aide job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Ximena Uribe-Zarain: Even though the pandemic has had an enormous impact on the social, economic, and emotional fabric of our society, jobs in our field have not been greatly affected by it. Graduates from the field of educational assessment, program evaluation, and research in education will find plenty of opportunities even in harsh times like these. The trends in the job market continue to be in industry in the area of psychometrics, program evaluation firms, and higher education.
What the pandemic has changed is the way we conduct business. The pandemic has made more evident and even widened systemic inequalities. As researchers, we need to pay close attention to our own cultural responsiveness and be mindful of the disparities in terms of health, racial justice, and technological access. We need to be intentional in our designs, analyses, and the dissemination of results; ultimately thinking on the way our work contributes to a more inclusive and equitable society.
What skills stand out on Paraprofessional Aide 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.
Karen Cheramie
Interdisciplinary Studies Program CoordinatorNicholls State University
English, Modern Languages & Cultural Studies Department
What skills stand out on Paraprofessional Aide 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.
Christie Lewis
Assistant Professor of Education, Field CoordinatorChatham University
Education Department
What experience really stands out on Paraprofessional Aide 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.