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How to hire a special education assistant

Special education assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring special education assistants in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a special education assistant 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 special education assistant 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 231,310 special education assistants in the US, and there are currently 62,239 job openings in this field.
  • Minneapolis, MN, has the highest demand for special education assistants, with 60 job openings.

How to hire a special education assistant, step by step

To hire a special education assistant, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a special education assistant:

Here's a step-by-step special education assistant hiring guide:

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

What does a special education assistant do?

A special education assistant is responsible for supporting class activities in an inclusive classroom setting, assisting students with their tasks under the supervision of a special education teacher. Special education assistants create comprehensive lesson plans which adhere to the students' curriculum and special needs. They also help with developing engaging activities to promote an active learning environment while monitoring the students' personal and social behavior. A special education assistant must have excellent communication and organization skills, ensuring the progress of the students by regular interaction, and managing their needs.

Learn more about the specifics of what a special education assistant does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your special education assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a special education assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A special education assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, special education assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    The following list breaks down different types of special education assistants and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Special Education AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    Special Education AssistantTeacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.$12-19
    Instructional AideAn instructional aide focuses on performing support-related tasks for a teacher or faculty member. They are primarily responsible for helping teachers maintain a safe and healthy learning environment, recording attendance, creating visual aids or presentations, participating in the preparation of lesson plans and tests, and assisting students who are having difficulties in a particular task or lesson... Show more$11-18
    Early Childhood Special EducatorEarly childhood special educators are professionals who provide direct services for infants and young children that are experiencing delays in their development. These educators are required to collaborate with parents to provide a program of activities that can encourage the growth of the children's skills... Show more$11-27
    Show more

  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Paraprofessional
    • Behavior Management
    • IEP
    • CPR
    • Adaptive
    • Behavioral Issues
    • Autism
    • CPI
    • Instructional Materials
    • Math
    • Mathematics
    • Public Schools
    • Data Collection
    • Classroom Environment
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
    • Implement behavioral plans design by IEP team for students with behavior disorders or other learning disabilities
    • Accompany students to special classes (art, music, PE) and on field trips.
    • Complete Medicaid forms on a daily basis.
    • Assist special needs children with independent skills and work tasks, fill out Medicaid paperwork.
    • Provide one on one attention to pre-k partner child with multiple activities while promoting language and developmental skills.
    More special education assistant duties

  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your special education assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A special education assistant salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, special education assistants' average salary in arkansas is 38% less than in rhode island.
    • Seniority. Entry-level special education assistants earn 38% less than senior-level special education assistants.
    • Certifications. A special education assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a special education assistant's salary.

    Average special education assistant salary

    $15.46hourly

    $32,149 yearly
    Entry-level special education assistant salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated February 1, 2026

    Average special education assistant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$37,962$18
    2District of Columbia$37,512$18
    3California$35,727$17
    4Massachusetts$35,688$17
    5Minnesota$33,849$16
    6Tennessee$33,014$16
    7Oregon$32,506$16
    8Colorado$30,163$15
    9New Jersey$29,720$14
    10Arizona$29,066$14
    11Montana$28,849$14
    12Maryland$28,604$14
    13Michigan$28,093$14
    14Illinois$27,571$13
    15South Carolina$26,940$13
    16Florida$26,705$13
    17New Mexico$25,653$12

    Average special education assistant salary by company

  4. Writing a special education assistant job description

    A special education assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a special education assistant job description:

    Special education assistant job description example

    1. Associate Degree or passing score on paraprofessional test

    2. Ability to communicate effectively with students and school personnel

    3. Ability to maintain a cooperative, harmonious relationship within the school setting which fosters recognition and respect for every individual

    REPORTS TO: Special Education Teacher

    JOB GOAL: Assists with the implementation of strategies to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

    ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

    1. Assists with student instruction to meet the goals/objectives of the IEP

    2. Provides support for the special education and general education teachers

    3. Attends to the personal needs of special education students to whom assigned such as: eating, dressing, toileting and/or diapering, walking, getting on and off buses, putting on or adjusting prosthetic appliances, physical and occupational therapy exercises (as instructed occupational or physical therapist), and other tasks and activities as assigned by the supervising special education teacher

    4. Maintains student confidentiality, as mandated by both State and Federal law, at all times

    5. Defers all inquiries or concerns from parents, teachers or other staff members regarding student(s) to the school administrator or supervising special education teacher

    6. Assists with student management

    7. Under the supervision of the supervising special education teacher, works with small groups of special education students to reinforce material initially introduced by the teacher

    8. Assists student(s) in math, reading, and other curricular tasks, as directed by the supervising teacher, guiding and helping, but never assuming the role of the teacher

    9. Assists special education students who participate in general education classes for all or any portion of the day, as directed by the supervising special education teacher

    10. Accompanies the student(s) to whom assigned to various points about the school and campus as directed by supervising special education teacher

    11. Operates and cares for equipment and materials used in the classroom for instructional purposes

    12. Assists with the supervision of students during emergency drills, play periods, field trips, and other school-related activities

    13. Performs other duties as assigned by the supervising special education teacher or appropriate administrator

  5. Post your job

    To find special education assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any special education assistants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level special education assistants with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your special education assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit special education assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.

  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit special education assistants, your first interview needs to engage 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.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 special education assistant

    Once you've selected the best special education assistant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new special education assistant 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, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • 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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How much does it cost to hire a special education assistant?

Hiring a special education assistant comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting special education assistants involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of special education assistant recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for special education assistants is $32,149 in the US. However, the cost of special education assistant hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a special education assistant for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $12 and $19 an hour.

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Updated February 1, 2026

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