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Best states for a special education instructional assistant
Quoted expert
Dr. Michelle Powers
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for special education instructional assistants? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for special education instructional assistant jobs.As special education instructional assistants are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for special education instructional assistants. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a special education instructional assistant, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for special education instructional assistant jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a special education instructional assistant, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for special education instructional assistants in 2025
1. Alaska
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 139 Average annual salary: $34,727 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
2. Indiana
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 742 Average annual salary: $35,000 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
3. Vermont
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $32,408 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.68
4. Washington
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 739 Average annual salary: $36,152 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
5. Nebraska
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 393 Average annual salary: $31,476 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
6. Nevada
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 414 Average annual salary: $31,078 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.79
7. North Dakota
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $33,193 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
8. Oregon
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 525 Average annual salary: $33,244 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
9. Connecticut
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 619 Average annual salary: $31,991 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.69
10. New Jersey
Total special education instructional assistant jobs: 973 Average annual salary: $34,195 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
Special education instructional assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a special education instructional assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a special education instructional assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $34,727 | $30,000 | 739,795 | 139 |
| 2 | Indiana | $35,000 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 742 |
| 3 | Vermont | $32,408 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 142 |
| 4 | Washington | $36,152 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 739 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $31,476 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 393 |
| 6 | Nevada | $31,078 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 414 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $33,193 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 94 |
| 8 | Oregon | $33,244 | $26,000 | 4,142,776 | 525 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $31,991 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 619 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $34,195 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 973 |
| 11 | Illinois | $32,032 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,714 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $32,172 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 570 |
| 13 | Idaho | $31,736 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 204 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $30,976 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,475 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $32,401 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 647 |
| 16 | Ohio | $31,205 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,227 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $31,000 | $24,000 | 1,342,795 | 326 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $34,443 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 743 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $37,801 | $31,000 | 1,427,538 | 74 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $33,968 | $26,000 | 693,972 | 214 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $31,500 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 131 |
| 22 | Michigan | $29,602 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,168 |
| 23 | Montana | $29,802 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 192 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $30,520 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 274 |
| 25 | New York | $31,965 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,429 |
| 26 | California | $33,418 | $26,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,636 |
| 27 | Arizona | $28,266 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,135 |
| 28 | Maine | $29,561 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 167 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $29,309 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 106 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $27,400 | $22,000 | 579,315 | 117 |
| 31 | Missouri | $28,373 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 810 |
| 32 | Delaware | $28,600 | $22,000 | 961,939 | 207 |
| 33 | Utah | $28,836 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 331 |
| 34 | Kansas | $28,203 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 345 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $26,596 | $20,000 | 4,454,189 | 699 |
| 36 | Iowa | $28,362 | $22,000 | 3,145,711 | 346 |
| 37 | Colorado | $27,980 | $22,000 | 5,607,154 | 847 |
| 38 | Maryland | $28,888 | $22,000 | 6,052,177 | 804 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $27,198 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 120 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $26,510 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 293 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $25,610 | $20,000 | 3,930,864 | 443 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $26,489 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 188 |
| 43 | Texas | $27,334 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,579 |
| 44 | Virginia | $27,555 | $21,000 | 8,470,020 | 805 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $26,342 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 772 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $25,485 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 400 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $25,055 | $19,000 | 6,715,984 | 474 |
| 48 | Georgia | $25,948 | $20,000 | 10,429,379 | 701 |
| 49 | Florida | $23,102 | $17,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,500 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $24,484 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 277 |
| 51 | Alabama | $24,584 | $19,000 | 4,874,747 | 280 |
Highest paying states for special education instructional assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Special Education Instructional Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $34,727 |
| 2 | Indiana | $35,000 |
| 3 | Vermont | $32,408 |
| 4 | Washington | $36,152 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $31,476 |
| 6 | Nevada | $31,078 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $33,193 |
| 8 | Oregon | $33,244 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $31,991 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $34,195 |
| 11 | Illinois | $32,032 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $32,172 |
| 13 | Idaho | $31,736 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $30,976 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $32,401 |
| 16 | Ohio | $31,205 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $31,000 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $34,443 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $37,801 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $33,968 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $31,500 |
| 22 | Michigan | $29,602 |
| 23 | Montana | $29,802 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $30,520 |
| 25 | New York | $31,965 |
| 26 | California | $33,418 |
| 27 | Arizona | $28,266 |
| 28 | Maine | $29,561 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $29,309 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $27,400 |
| 31 | Missouri | $28,373 |
| 32 | Delaware | $28,600 |
| 33 | Utah | $28,836 |
| 34 | Kansas | $28,203 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $26,596 |
| 36 | Iowa | $28,362 |
| 37 | Colorado | $27,980 |
| 38 | Maryland | $28,888 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $27,198 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $26,510 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $25,610 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $26,489 |
| 43 | Texas | $27,334 |
| 44 | Virginia | $27,555 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $26,342 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $25,485 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $25,055 |
| 48 | Georgia | $25,948 |
| 49 | Florida | $23,102 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $24,484 |
| 51 | Alabama | $24,584 |
Expert opinions on the best states for special education instructional assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for special education instructional assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Michelle Powers
Assistant Professor of Special Education, Augustana University
The field of education, including special education, is full of incredible and rewarding work opportunities, across the US, for new graduates. As our current teaching workforce begins to reach the age of retirement, more and more options are going to emerge. Whether you want to stay in your community or reach out for a new adventure, school districts need skilled professionals to lead their classrooms. Sometimes, places that recent graduates might not consider beginning their careers can turn out to be a great fit. Smaller, more rural communities embrace young professionals and can give them mentoring and support to grow their skills and expertise. I am unsure if new professionals consider the Midwest and the opportunities we present for them, but I would encourage any recent graduate to look at these areas. The school systems here are excellent, more diverse than you might expect, and are doing some fantastic things in their classrooms that would be exciting and rewarding for anyone who loves teaching.
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Updated January 8, 2025