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Resource paraprofessional vs para educator

The differences between resource paraprofessionals and para educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a para educator has an average salary of $31,394, 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 a para educator are behavioral issues, student performance, and IEP.

Resource paraprofessional vs para educator overview

Resource ParaprofessionalPara Educator
Yearly salary$30,427$31,394
Hourly rate$14.63$15.09
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs8,85256,897
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
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 a para educator do?

Paraeducators' primary role is to provide students with extra guidance and support outside or inside the classroom. They are also called paraprofessional educators or teaching assistants who are expected to support teachers. In small group activities, they take the lead permitting teachers to help their students in many ways. The necessary skills required include organization, intellectual curiosity, and being calm. They should also be creative, a team player, and knowledgeable. A bachelor's degree in education is also a necessity for this job.

Resource paraprofessional vs para educator salary

Resource paraprofessionals and para educators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Resource ParaprofessionalPara Educator
Average salary$30,427$31,394
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $37,000Between $24,000 And $39,000
Highest paying CityDetroit, MIBelmont, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiMassachusetts
Best paying companySouth Washington County SchoolsCentral Valley School District
Best paying industryFinanceEducation

Differences between resource paraprofessional and para educator education

There are a few differences between a resource paraprofessional and a para educator in terms of educational background:

Resource ParaprofessionalPara Educator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorElementary EducationPsychology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Resource paraprofessional vs para educator demographics

Here are the differences between resource paraprofessionals' and para educators' demographics:

Resource ParaprofessionalPara Educator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.7% Female, 85.3%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
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, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between resource paraprofessional and para educator 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

Para educator example responsibilities.

  • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
  • Work daily with a small group of 4th grade students in language arts in the morning and mathematics in the afternoon.
  • Plan and implement lesson and in a k-5 school.
  • Assist teacher in every aspect of curriculum, CPR certify.
  • Certify in CPR, first aide, used when necessary.
  • Certify through CPI to be able to physically restrain when necessary.
  • Show more

Resource paraprofessional vs para educator skills

Common resource paraprofessional skills
  • Classroom Materials, 33%
  • Instructional Materials, 27%
  • Math, 18%
  • IEP, 15%
  • ASD, 3%
  • Autism, 3%
Common para educator skills
  • Behavioral Issues, 10%
  • Student Performance, 8%
  • IEP, 8%
  • Math, 7%
  • Kindergarten, 7%
  • School Administration, 6%

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