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Resource paraprofessional vs educational assistant

The differences between resource paraprofessionals and educational assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an educational assistant has an average salary of $31,100, which is higher than the $30,427 average annual salary of a resource paraprofessional.

The top three skills for a resource paraprofessional include classroom materials, instructional materials and math. The most important skills for an educational assistant are CPR, IEP, and direct supervision.

Resource paraprofessional vs educational assistant overview

Resource ParaprofessionalEducational Assistant
Yearly salary$30,427$31,100
Hourly rate$14.63$14.95
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs8,85249,979
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

What does a resource paraprofessional do?

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.

What does an educational assistant do?

An educational assistant, or often called teaching assistant, assists teachers in instruction delivery and provides learning support to students. Educational assistants may perform classroom duties such as class preparations, taking attendance, and paperwork management. They help students by reviewing materials presented by teachers through one-on-one tutoring or in small groups. They may also supervise and monitor the educational activities of children, such as playing and other primary care. Educational Assistants can work in elementary, middle, and high schools while others work in preschools and childcare centers.

Resource paraprofessional vs educational assistant salary

Resource paraprofessionals and educational assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Resource ParaprofessionalEducational Assistant
Average salary$30,427$31,100
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $37,000Between $20,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityDetroit, MINew York, NY
Highest paying stateHawaiiRhode Island
Best paying companySouth Washington County SchoolsColumbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industryFinanceNon Profits

Differences between resource paraprofessional and educational assistant education

There are a few differences between a resource paraprofessional and an educational assistant in terms of educational background:

Resource ParaprofessionalEducational Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorElementary EducationBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Resource paraprofessional vs educational assistant demographics

Here are the differences between resource paraprofessionals' and educational assistants' demographics:

Resource ParaprofessionalEducational Assistant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.7% Female, 85.3%Male, 23.2% Female, 76.8%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 8.1% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between resource paraprofessional and educational assistant duties and responsibilities

Resource paraprofessional example responsibilities.

  • Work with ESL and special needs students, individually and in small groups, to attain their learning objectives
  • Contribute to IEP meetings to help identify appropriate student goals.
  • Create maps and presentation materials utilizing GIS, CanVis and Powerpoint.
  • Maintain a record or record data regarding students and IEP goal progress.
  • Enhance reading and math skills by administering assessments and planning instruction according to given data.
  • Work one-on-one with special education students providing additional support in math, reading, writing, social studies, and science.
  • Show more

Educational assistant example responsibilities.

  • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
  • Perform basic administrative tasks like photocopying student work displays etc.
  • Support class teachers in photocopying and other tasks in order to support teaching.
  • Used CPI blocks, restraints, and escorts when necessary to ensure the safety of students and staff.
  • Serve special needs Pre-K students in a PPCD classroom, under the direction of a certify classroom teacher.
  • Provide assistance to non-English speaking students
  • Show more

Resource paraprofessional vs educational assistant skills

Common resource paraprofessional skills
  • Classroom Materials, 33%
  • Instructional Materials, 27%
  • Math, 18%
  • IEP, 15%
  • ASD, 3%
  • Autism, 3%
Common educational assistant skills
  • CPR, 12%
  • IEP, 7%
  • Direct Supervision, 6%
  • Behavioral Issues, 6%
  • Clerical Support, 6%
  • Autism, 6%

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