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What does a paraprofessional education assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Patricia Rogan Ph.D.
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Paraprofessional education assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real paraprofessional education assistant resumes:

  • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
  • Work with students who have autism.
  • Teach mathematics to students seeking their GED.
  • Assist students with daily living and provide support in meeting student IEP goals.
  • Train in ABA therapy, and necessary paperwork that goes along with it.
  • Assist in instruction of students one-on-one and /or in group settings according to individual needs and IEP assessments.
  • Attend CPI training to better meet the needs of students, and to maintain safety within the classroom.
  • Care for children with a variety of medical problems including autism and developmentaldelays.
  • Collaborate with teacher to design and carry out engaging, level-appropriate activities for him in coordination with greater kindergarten curriculum.
  • Assist teachers in special education classes in implementing lessons, modifying student behavior, and instilling organizational skills and effective study habits

Paraprofessional education assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 26% of Paraprofessional Education Assistants are proficient in Public Schools, Direct Supervision, and One Assistance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, and Patience.

We break down the percentage of Paraprofessional Education Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Public Schools, 26%

    Assist lead teacher with daily routine in assignments, individual lesson plans AVID Tutor Dec- Present Chesapeake Public Schools, Virginia.

  • Direct Supervision, 16%

    Prepare materials for various levels of instruction in collaboration with the teacher and under direct supervision of the teacher.

  • One Assistance, 10%

    Provided teaching assistance and one-on-one assistance to ECHO school as needed in a substitute capacity.

  • Autism, 7%

    Assisted classroom teacher by providing educational structure for multiple kindergarten children diagnosed within the Autism spectrum

  • Classroom Management, 7%

    Assisted teachers, lead class lessons, small group, and maintained classroom management.

  • Pre-Kindergarten, 5%

    School locations: Fairview School Gwen T. Jackson Elementary Pierce Elementary Grade levels Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade.

"public schools," "direct supervision," and "one assistance" are among the most common skills that paraprofessional education assistants use at work. You can find even more paraprofessional education assistant responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a paraprofessional education assistant to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "teacher assistants need to be clear and concise in discussing student progress with teachers and parents." Additionally, a paraprofessional education assistant resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "maintain effective communication and follow through with behavior analyst, teachers, and classroom staff. "

Interpersonal skills. Another essential skill to perform paraprofessional education assistant duties is interpersonal skills. Paraprofessional education assistants responsibilities require that "teacher assistants must be able to develop relationships with a variety of people, including teachers, students, parents, and administrators." Paraprofessional education assistants also use interpersonal skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "assist students with autism in developing social, interpersonal, problem solving-skills and positive behavior. "

Patience. This is an important skill for paraprofessional education assistants to perform their duties. For an example of how paraprofessional education assistant responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "working with students of different abilities and backgrounds may be difficult." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a paraprofessional education assistant: "displayed enthusiasm and patience with children to demonstrate a fun learning environment. ".

Resourcefulness. A big part of what paraprofessional education assistants do relies on "resourcefulness." You can see how essential it is to paraprofessional education assistant responsibilities because "teacher assistants must find ways to explain information to students who have different learning styles." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical paraprofessional education assistant tasks: "showed resourcefulness and teaching effectiveness in meeting the needs of individuals with limited english language proficiency as well as learning disabilities. "

All paraprofessional education assistant skills

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Compare different paraprofessional education assistants

Paraprofessional education assistant vs. Instructional aide

An instructional aide focuses on performing support-related tasks for a teacher or faculty member. They are primarily responsible for helping teachers maintain a safe and healthy learning environment, recording attendance, creating visual aids or presentations, participating in the preparation of lesson plans and tests, and assisting students who are having difficulties in a particular task or lesson. An instructional aide may also take part in counseling and supervising students' behavior during class activities, all while adhering to the school's policies and regulations.

If we compare the average paraprofessional education assistant annual salary with that of an instructional aide, we find that instructional aides typically earn a $1,725 higher salary than paraprofessional education assistants make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both paraprofessional education assistant and instructional aide positions are skilled in direct supervision, one assistance, and classroom management.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between paraprofessional education assistants and instructional aide. For instance, paraprofessional education assistant responsibilities require skills such as "public schools," "autism," "pre-kindergarten," and "compassion." Whereas a instructional aide is skilled in "work ethic," "cpr," "math," and "basic math." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Instructional aides really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $30,309. Comparatively, paraprofessional education assistants tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $29,952.On average, instructional aides reach similar levels of education than paraprofessional education assistants. Instructional aides are 2.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Paraprofessional education assistant vs. Substitute teacher's assistant

A substitute teacher's assistant, also called a substitute teacher aide, assists in student supervision during their playground and lunchroom activities. Substitute teacher assistants perform security functions within the academic institutions. These may include reviewing students' identification cards, monitoring the corridors, and assisting teachers in bulletin board preparations. The assistants help students to have a better understanding of classroom assignments as well as their completion. They are expected to provide proper English grammar and spelling, have the ability to work for and with school-aged children, and be equipped with excellent communication skills.

On average, substitute teacher's assistants earn a $481 higher salary than paraprofessional education assistants a year.A few skills overlap for paraprofessional education assistants and substitute teacher's assistants. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "public schools," "classroom management," and "instructional materials. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that paraprofessional education assistant responsibilities requires skills like "direct supervision," "one assistance," "autism," and "pre-kindergarten." But a substitute teacher's assistant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cpr," "teacher assistants," "k-12," and "language arts."

On average, substitute teacher's assistants earn a higher salary than paraprofessional education assistants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, substitute teacher's assistants earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $28,585. Whereas paraprofessional education assistants have higher pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $29,952.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Substitute teacher's assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than paraprofessional education assistants. In fact, they're 3.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for paraprofessional education assistants in the next 3-5 years?

Patricia Rogan Ph.D.Patricia Rogan Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor, Special Education/Urban Teacher Education, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Educators will continue to advance learning in online or virtual contexts and will use a wider variety of e-learning tools and resources to bring the curriculum to life. Schools will ensure that students have access to computers and the internet, and students will be more tech-savvy as a result of increased online learning. Specific technology that enhances and enriches students' individualized experiences with content and instruction will be key. For example, future teachers may want to become familiarized with technology (including assistive technology) that facilitates learning for students with learning disabilities, students who are emergent bilinguals, and students who may need to access applications or software that engages visual, auditory, tactile, and/or kinesthetic learning in a multitude of ways.

Paraprofessional education assistant vs. Work-study assistant

A work-study assistant's responsibilities depend on his/her or her place of employment. His/Her or her duties include processing paperwork, responding to inquiries, and maintaining records. The essential skills that a work-study assistant should possess to accomplish his/her or her responsibilities include good writing, interpersonal, and organizational skills. The education requirements to qualify for the job include obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree in the field of business, psychology, and criminal justice.

An average work-study assistant eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of paraprofessional education assistants. The difference in salaries amounts to work-study assistants earning a $4,057 lower average salary than paraprofessional education assistants.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from paraprofessional education assistant resumes include skills like "public schools," "direct supervision," "one assistance," and "autism," whereas a work-study assistant is more likely to list skills in "financial aid," "data entry," "customer service," and "powerpoint. "

Work-study assistants earn the best pay in the education industry, where they command an average salary of $26,124. Paraprofessional education assistants earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $29,952.Most work-study assistants achieve a similar degree level compared to paraprofessional education assistants. For example, they're 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Paraprofessional education assistant vs. Teacher assistant

Teacher assistants are responsible for aiding teachers in their needs inside the classroom. They help teachers prepare for lessons in class, set up equipment, distribute educational materials to students, and monitor the progress of the students. Teacher assistants also help in managing the children in the classroom, as well as providing the necessary assistance a child may need. This may include helping with the lessons by going table to table, assisting in writing exercises, and tutoring kids one-to-one. Teacher assistants are required to have patience, flexibility, and classroom management skills.

Teacher assistants tend to earn a lower pay than paraprofessional education assistants by an average of $2,165 per year.While their salaries may vary, paraprofessional education assistants and teacher assistants both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "classroom management," "instructional materials," and "learning environment. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A paraprofessional education assistant uses "public schools," "direct supervision," "one assistance," and "autism." Teacher assistants are more likely to have duties that require skills in "cpr," "child care," "art projects," and "social development. "The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for teacher assistants, with average annual pay of $32,871. Comparatively, the highest paraprofessional education assistant annual salary comes from the professional industry.teacher assistants reach similar levels of education compared to paraprofessional education assistants, in general. The difference is that they're 1.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of paraprofessional education assistant

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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