Research Summary. Here are some key facts to know if you're looking to hire a school aides in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a school aide is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per school aide on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 154,491 school aides in the US, and there are currently 69,231 job openings in this field.
  • Portland, OR, has the highest demand for school aides, with 13 job openings.

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How Much Does it Cost to Hire a School Aide

There are different types of costs for hiring school aides. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new school aide employee.

The median annual salary for school aides is $29,896 in the US. However, the cost of school aide hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a school aide for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $10 and $18 an hour.

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How to hire a School Aide, step by step

To hire a school aide, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a school aide:

  • Step 1: Identify your needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Writing a school aide job description
  • Step 5: Post the job
  • Step 6: Interview process
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new school aide
  • Step 8: Go through the checklist for the hiring process

1
Identify Your Needs

The first step to find school aides for hire is determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

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Before you hire a school aide, you should also consider the ideal background you'd like them to have. For example, what industry or field they have experience in, what level of seniority or education the job requires, and how much it'll cost to hire a candidate that fits the bill.

This list presents the salaries of various school aide positions.

Type Of School AideDescriptionHourly Rate
School AideTeacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.$10-18
Para EducatorParaeducators' 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... Show More$11-18
Child Care TeacherA child care teacher is responsible for educating young learners, observing their personal and social behaviors. They also prepare engaging and fun activities for the children, ensuring their safety and security... Show More$6-21

2
Create An Ideal Candidate Profile

Before creating a school aide job description, imagine the ideal employee for this position and begin creating a profile. What skills do they have and what responsibilities do they have to be proficient in?

Here are some of the most common school aide skills:

Common Skills:
  • CPR
  • Role Model
  • Direct Supervision
  • Child Care
  • Behavioral Problems
  • Office Equipment
  • Lunch Periods
  • Lunch Room
  • After-School Program
  • Homework Assignments
  • Instructional Materials
  • Classroom Environment
  • IEP
  • Applied Behavior Analysis
Check All Skills

Here is a list of common responsibilities that school aides may be expected to fulfill:

Responsibilities:
  • Train in CPR to effectively manage emergency situations.
  • Administer medication to members, CPR certify.
  • Provide support appropriate to the students' abilities and identify IEP goals.
  • Provide emotional support for one student with learning disabilities along with IEP procedures.
  • Evaluate all sorts of Mac/Windows software (PageMaker, PowerPoint, etc).
  • Conduct individual exercise instruction as prescribed by supervising therapist, significantly resulting in improving the overall well being of many patients.
Check all Duties

Beyond the basics, you should also consider how well a candidate fits into your company culture. In other words, you should think about how your ideal school aide will live by the company's mission statement and contribute to the team dynamic you already have in place.

Most Common States For School Aides In The US

Rank #State# Of Jobs% of PopulationAvg. Salary
1Illinois2,66521%$29,173
2Michigan1,61616%$28,482
3New Jersey1,61018%$33,383
4Indiana1,27419%$23,845
5Arizona1,23718%$27,534

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3
Make A Budget

Including a salary range in the job description is a good way to get more applicants. A school aide salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, their level of experience, education and certifications, and the prestige of the employer. For example, the average salary for a school aide in Louisiana may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level school aide. Additionally, a school aide with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

Updated March 16, 2023

School Aide Salary Estimate

$14.37hourly

$29,896 yearly

Entry level Salary
$22,000 yearly

School Aide Average Salary By Location

RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly RateJob Count
1New York$35,419$17
2California$34,655$17
3New Jersey$33,675$162
4District of Columbia$33,652$161
5Illinois$29,405$14

School Aide Average Salary By Company

4
Writing a School Aide Job Description

A job description for a school aide role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a school aide job description:

Example of Full Job Description

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

At the direction of the principal, assists teachers by performing a variety of tasks that promote student learning and well-being. Works individually and in small groups to reinforce instruction, monitor performance, and support learning. This position also performs a variety of instructional and classroom management supports, as well as related clerical tasks to support teachers and other professional staff in all classrooms or learning environments.

CERTIFICATE LICENSE:

None

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

Knowledge of child development, instructional strategies and practices applicable to assignment, and instructional goals and policies of Montgomery County Public Schools. Ability to assist with implementation of the instructional program and to participate in monitoring and ensuring appropriate student behavior. Ability to exhibit patient behavior and to work effectively with children, young adults, and staff members. Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and to perform all required tasks. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Ability to read/write/speak English. Ability to interact with and support students with special needs. Knowledge of standard desktop computer hardware and software such as MS Office products and database software. Knowledge of and the ability to meet the seven core competencies of the Supporting Services Professional Growth System (SSPGS).

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:

These requirements are in order of preference. 1. AA degree, required. Bachelor s degree preferred. College course work should include a minimum of nine credit-hours related to education field such as behavior management, instructional strategies, and one year experience working with students in structured educational (or academic) situations preferred. Or: If no related education course work, then two to four years experience working with children and adolescents required. I.e. working in a structured setting such as a daycare, pre-school, etc. required. 2. Or at least 48 college credits and two years of experience in an education related field including preschool, adult day program, after school program, extended day, or school/non-school based departments, etc. 3. Or two years of experience in an education related field including nursery school, adult day program, after school program, extended day, or school/non-school based departments, etc., and successful completion of the ParaPro Assessment with a qualifying score of 455 or higher is required. I.e. Opportunity for current supporting services employees 4. Any combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered.

5
Post A Job

There are a few common ways to find school aides for your business:

  • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
  • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
  • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
  • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

Post your job online:

  • Post your school aide job on Zippia to find and recruit school aide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
  • Use field-specific websites.
  • Post a job on free websites.

6
Interview Process

To successfully recruit school aides, your first interview needs to be all about engaging with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

It's also a good idea to ask about candidates' special skills and talents. If you think that a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7
Send A Job Offer And Onboard Your New School Aide

Once you've found the school aide candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary, as well as the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer needs to be competitive if you really like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

To prepare for the new school aide first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources needs to make sure that a new employee file is created for internal recordkeeping.

8
Go Through The Checklist For The Hiring Process

  • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
  • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
  • Define job responsibilities and requirements
  • Establish budget and timeline
  • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
  • Write job description
  • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
  • Promote the job internally
  • Process applications through applicant tracking system
  • Review resumes and cover letters
  • Shortlist candidates for screening
  • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
  • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
  • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
  • Conduct background checks on top candidates
  • Check references of top candidates
  • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
  • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
  • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
  • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
  • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
  • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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Hiring School Aides FAQs

How Much Does A Good School Aide Cost?

A good school aide costs $14.37 an hour in the US. However, it can vary based on factors such as the school aide experience, abilities, industry, and the specific requirements of your business.

What Are The Duties Of A School Aide?

The duties of a school aide are:
  • Train in CPR to effectively manage emergency situations.
  • Administer medication to members, CPR certify.
  • Provide support appropriate to the students' abilities and identify IEP goals.

Should I Hire A School Aide With No Experience?

Yes, you should hire a school aide with no experience. Hiring an entry-level school aide with no experience offers versatility for your team. They may lack some qualifications, but are adaptable and have not yet formed problematic habits. However, more training may be required compared to experienced.

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