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Best states for a special education paraeducator
Quoted expert
Dr. Michelle Powers
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a special education paraeducator at Council Bluffs Community School District, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for special education paraeducators that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of special education paraeducators in America is $39,000.
We figured that the best places for special education paraeducator 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.We found that Alaska is the best state for special education paraeducator jobs, whereas North Carolina is the worst.
10 best states for special education paraeducators in 2025
1. Alaska
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 110 Average annual salary: $41,549 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
2. Wyoming
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $35,063 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
3. Pennsylvania
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 1,618 Average annual salary: $37,113 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
4. Connecticut
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 604 Average annual salary: $35,654 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.59
5. Oregon
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 523 Average annual salary: $38,716 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
6. District of Columbia
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 183 Average annual salary: $40,673 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
7. Vermont
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 146 Average annual salary: $32,666 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
8. Minnesota
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 746 Average annual salary: $36,064 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
9. Illinois
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 1,738 Average annual salary: $33,221 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
10. Washington
Total special education paraeducator jobs: 752 Average annual salary: $36,216 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
Special education paraeducator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a special education paraeducator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a special education paraeducator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $41,549 | $34,000 | 739,795 | 110 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $35,063 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 113 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $37,113 | $29,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,618 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $35,654 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 604 |
| 5 | Oregon | $38,716 | $31,000 | 4,142,776 | 523 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $40,673 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 183 |
| 7 | Vermont | $32,666 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 146 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $36,064 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 746 |
| 9 | Illinois | $33,221 | $26,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,738 |
| 10 | Washington | $36,216 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 752 |
| 11 | New York | $35,525 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,510 |
| 12 | Delaware | $32,584 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 208 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $37,169 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 748 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $33,438 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 133 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $29,941 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 406 |
| 16 | Nevada | $30,168 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 614 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $34,449 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,077 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $30,953 | $24,000 | 1,342,795 | 308 |
| 19 | California | $37,135 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,787 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $28,842 | $23,000 | 4,454,189 | 694 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $32,014 | $25,000 | 755,393 | 93 |
| 22 | Colorado | $31,939 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 847 |
| 23 | Kansas | $30,516 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 349 |
| 24 | Michigan | $28,944 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,165 |
| 25 | Ohio | $28,594 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,287 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $34,744 | $28,000 | 1,427,538 | 78 |
| 27 | Maryland | $31,078 | $24,000 | 6,052,177 | 831 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $28,196 | $22,000 | 2,088,070 | 291 |
| 29 | Georgia | $31,061 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 743 |
| 30 | Maine | $28,284 | $22,000 | 1,335,907 | 181 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $28,507 | $22,000 | 1,815,857 | 110 |
| 32 | Iowa | $28,770 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 334 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $28,299 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 451 |
| 34 | Florida | $28,839 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,447 |
| 35 | Arizona | $26,200 | $21,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,167 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $27,965 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 508 |
| 37 | Idaho | $26,928 | $21,000 | 1,716,943 | 215 |
| 38 | Alabama | $28,257 | $22,000 | 4,874,747 | 249 |
| 39 | Virginia | $29,169 | $23,000 | 8,470,020 | 783 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $26,683 | $21,000 | 5,795,483 | 573 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $26,139 | $21,000 | 869,666 | 108 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $25,056 | $20,000 | 3,930,864 | 461 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $25,654 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 306 |
| 44 | Missouri | $25,738 | $20,000 | 6,113,532 | 838 |
| 45 | Utah | $25,982 | $21,000 | 3,101,833 | 345 |
| 46 | Texas | $27,413 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,758 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $26,644 | $21,000 | 4,684,333 | 283 |
| 48 | Montana | $23,207 | $19,000 | 1,050,493 | 201 |
| 49 | Indiana | $24,728 | $19,000 | 6,666,818 | 724 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $24,987 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 196 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $25,348 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 841 |
Highest paying states for special education paraeducators
| Rank | State | Avg. Special Education Paraeducator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $41,549 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $35,063 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $37,113 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $35,654 |
| 5 | Oregon | $38,716 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $40,673 |
| 7 | Vermont | $32,666 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $36,064 |
| 9 | Illinois | $33,221 |
| 10 | Washington | $36,216 |
| 11 | New York | $35,525 |
| 12 | Delaware | $32,584 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $37,169 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $33,438 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $29,941 |
| 16 | Nevada | $30,168 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $34,449 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $30,953 |
| 19 | California | $37,135 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $28,842 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $32,014 |
| 22 | Colorado | $31,939 |
| 23 | Kansas | $30,516 |
| 24 | Michigan | $28,944 |
| 25 | Ohio | $28,594 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $34,744 |
| 27 | Maryland | $31,078 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $28,196 |
| 29 | Georgia | $31,061 |
| 30 | Maine | $28,284 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $28,507 |
| 32 | Iowa | $28,770 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $28,299 |
| 34 | Florida | $28,839 |
| 35 | Arizona | $26,200 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $27,965 |
| 37 | Idaho | $26,928 |
| 38 | Alabama | $28,257 |
| 39 | Virginia | $29,169 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $26,683 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $26,139 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $25,056 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $25,654 |
| 44 | Missouri | $25,738 |
| 45 | Utah | $25,982 |
| 46 | Texas | $27,413 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $26,644 |
| 48 | Montana | $23,207 |
| 49 | Indiana | $24,728 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $24,987 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $25,348 |
Expert opinions on the best states for special education paraeducators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for special education paraeducators 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