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The differences between resource paraprofessionals and classroom assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a resource paraprofessional has an average salary of $30,427, which is higher than the $27,801 average annual salary of a classroom assistant.
The top three skills for a resource paraprofessional include classroom materials, instructional materials and math. The most important skills for a classroom assistant are CPR, mathematics, and photocopying.
| Resource Paraprofessional | Classroom Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $30,427 | $27,801 |
| Hourly rate | $14.63 | $13.37 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 8,852 | 49,273 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A Resource Paraprofessional helps the human resource department in performing various tasks, such as training employees, coordinating the recruitment process, assessing training needs, and monitoring training programs. They work under the supervision of a professional and don't have any authority regarding signing paperwork or taking decisions.
A classroom assistant is responsible for monitoring the class activities and the students' learning progress under the command of a head instructor. Classroom assistants help the teachers in conducting engaging learning activities, creating comprehensive lesson plans, and gathering educational materials to support the students' needs. They take the initiative on observing the class when the teacher is away, leaving them activities to work on as the teacher instructed. A classroom assistant must have excellent communication and organization skills, as they also serve as a liaison between the students and the teacher for inquiries and concerns.
Resource paraprofessionals and classroom assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Resource Paraprofessional | Classroom Assistant | |
| Average salary | $30,427 | $27,801 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $37,000 | Between $22,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | Detroit, MI | Belmont, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | South Washington County Schools | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a resource paraprofessional and a classroom assistant in terms of educational background:
| Resource Paraprofessional | Classroom Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between resource paraprofessionals' and classroom assistants' demographics:
| Resource Paraprofessional | Classroom Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% | Male, 19.3% Female, 80.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |