Best states for a school aide

Q: What is the best state for school aides?

The best state to be a school aide is Rhode Island based on school aide salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for school aides?

The highest paying state for school aides is Texas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for school aides?

The worst state for school aides is Arkansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Lisa Diebel

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It seems like school aides are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for school aides aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Rhode Island is the best state in the country for school aides.

In order to get you the best states for school aides, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for school aides, and the Northeast is the worst. Brentwood, NY is the best city in the country for school aide jobs, where as Rhode Island is the best state in the country.

10 best states for school aides in 2026

1. Rhode Island
Total school aide jobs: 178
Average annual salary: $37,029
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
School aide jobs in Rhode Island
2. New York
Total school aide jobs: 2,445
Average annual salary: $35,272
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
School aide jobs in New York
3. Connecticut
Total school aide jobs: 800
Average annual salary: $33,001
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.72
School aide jobs in Connecticut
4. Delaware
Total school aide jobs: 180
Average annual salary: $34,205
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
School aide jobs in Delaware
5. Massachusetts
Total school aide jobs: 1,079
Average annual salary: $37,198
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
0.83
School aide jobs in Massachusetts
6. Vermont
Total school aide jobs: 117
Average annual salary: $33,102
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
School aide jobs in Vermont
7. New Hampshire
Total school aide jobs: 364
Average annual salary: $31,738
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.48
School aide jobs in New Hampshire
8. New Jersey
Total school aide jobs: 1,610
Average annual salary: $33,383
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.44
School aide jobs in New Jersey
9. Alaska
Total school aide jobs: 152
Average annual salary: $31,588
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
School aide jobs in Alaska
10. Maine
Total school aide jobs: 183
Average annual salary: $32,196
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
School aide jobs in Maine

School aide jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a school aide

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a school aide

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$37,029	$28,000	1,059,639	178
2	New York	$35,272	$26,000	19,849,399	2,445
3	Connecticut	$33,001	$25,000	3,588,184	800
4	Delaware	$34,205	$26,000	961,939	180
5	Massachusetts	$37,198	$28,000	6,859,819	1,079
6	Vermont	$33,102	$26,000	623,657	117
7	New Hampshire	$31,738	$24,000	1,342,795	364
8	New Jersey	$33,383	$25,000	9,005,644	1,610
9	Alaska	$31,588	$26,000	739,795	152
10	Maine	$32,196	$25,000	1,335,907	183
11	Washington	$34,459	$26,000	7,405,743	804
12	Michigan	$28,482	$21,000	9,962,311	1,616
13	Minnesota	$30,356	$23,000	5,576,606	1,129
14	Oregon	$31,644	$24,000	4,142,776	648
15	Illinois	$29,173	$22,000	12,802,023	2,665
16	North Dakota	$30,961	$24,000	755,393	89
17	Nevada	$28,260	$21,000	2,998,039	346
18	Arizona	$27,534	$21,000	7,016,270	1,237
19	Pennsylvania	$27,757	$21,000	12,805,537	1,977
20	West Virginia	$29,305	$22,000	1,815,857	148
21	Ohio	$28,428	$21,000	11,658,609	1,228
22	Montana	$27,161	$21,000	1,050,493	283
23	Nebraska	$28,355	$21,000	1,920,076	323
24	California	$33,224	$25,000	39,536,653	2,664
25	Colorado	$28,503	$21,000	5,607,154	947
26	District of Columbia	$33,667	$25,000	693,972	160
27	Mississippi	$28,773	$21,000	2,984,100	205
28	Missouri	$27,967	$21,000	6,113,532	818
29	Idaho	$27,859	$21,000	1,716,943	220
30	Utah	$28,695	$22,000	3,101,833	236
31	North Carolina	$26,568	$20,000	10,273,419	1,304
32	Hawaii	$31,414	$27,000	1,427,538	66
33	Tennessee	$25,343	$19,000	6,715,984	725
34	Oklahoma	$24,954	$19,000	3,930,864	447
35	Indiana	$23,845	$18,000	6,666,818	1,274
36	Maryland	$25,726	$19,000	6,052,177	1,044
37	New Mexico	$24,659	$18,000	2,088,070	301
38	South Dakota	$26,413	$20,000	869,666	83
39	Wisconsin	$24,886	$19,000	5,795,483	740
40	Kentucky	$24,954	$19,000	4,454,189	406
41	Wyoming	$24,245	$18,000	579,315	88
42	Iowa	$23,503	$18,000	3,145,711	541
43	Kansas	$23,173	$17,000	2,913,123	586
44	Virginia	$25,798	$19,000	8,470,020	964
45	Alabama	$24,826	$18,000	4,874,747	355
46	Georgia	$24,422	$18,000	10,429,379	1,167
47	South Carolina	$24,145	$18,000	5,024,369	539
48	Florida	$24,302	$18,000	20,984,400	1,538
49	Louisiana	$24,085	$18,000	4,684,333	306
50	Texas	$22,872	$17,000	28,304,596	2,641
51	Arkansas	$23,111	$17,000	3,004,279	224

Highest paying states for school aides

Rank	State	Avg. School Aide Salary
1	Rhode Island	$37,029
2	New York	$35,272
3	Connecticut	$33,001
4	Delaware	$34,205
5	Massachusetts	$37,198
6	Vermont	$33,102
7	New Hampshire	$31,738
8	New Jersey	$33,383
9	Alaska	$31,588
10	Maine	$32,196
11	Washington	$34,459
12	Michigan	$28,482
13	Minnesota	$30,356
14	Oregon	$31,644
15	Illinois	$29,173
16	North Dakota	$30,961
17	Nevada	$28,260
18	Arizona	$27,534
19	Pennsylvania	$27,757
20	West Virginia	$29,305
21	Ohio	$28,428
22	Montana	$27,161
23	Nebraska	$28,355
24	California	$33,224
25	Colorado	$28,503
26	District of Columbia	$33,667
27	Mississippi	$28,773
28	Missouri	$27,967
29	Idaho	$27,859
30	Utah	$28,695
31	North Carolina	$26,568
32	Hawaii	$31,414
33	Tennessee	$25,343
34	Oklahoma	$24,954
35	Indiana	$23,845
36	Maryland	$25,726
37	New Mexico	$24,659
38	South Dakota	$26,413
39	Wisconsin	$24,886
40	Kentucky	$24,954
41	Wyoming	$24,245
42	Iowa	$23,503
43	Kansas	$23,173
44	Virginia	$25,798
45	Alabama	$24,826
46	Georgia	$24,422
47	South Carolina	$24,145
48	Florida	$24,302
49	Louisiana	$24,085
50	Texas	$22,872
51	Arkansas	$23,111

Expert opinions on the best states for school aides

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for school aides to find work opportunities?
Lisa Diebel
Associate Professor of Instruction, Ohio University
I think FCS, ED, and CL graduates will successfully find employment anywhere in the US. An FCS degree offers a lot of versatility.

School aide best states FAQs

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Best states for School Aides

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total school aide jobs:	178
Average annual salary:	$37,029
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$28,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$47,000
Location Quotient:	1.04

Best states for a school aide

10 best states for school aides in 2026

1. Rhode Island

2. New York

3. Connecticut

4. Delaware

5. Massachusetts

6. Vermont

7. New Hampshire

8. New Jersey

9. Alaska

10. Maine