Special education paraeducator demographics and statistics in the US
Special education paraeducator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates special education paraeducator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our special education paraeducator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about special education paraeducators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 157,665 special education paraeducators currently employed in the United States.
- 79.6% of all special education paraeducators are women, while 20.4% are men.
- The average special education paraeducator age is 42 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of special education paraeducators is White (71.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (12.3%), Black or African American (8.0%) and Unknown (4.0%).
- Special education paraeducators are most in-demand in Everett, WA.
- Novato, CA pays an annual average wage of $37,837, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women special education paraeducators earned 99% of what men earned.
- Alaska is the best state for special education paraeducators to live.
- Special education paraeducators are 87% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Special education paraeducator demographics by:
Special education paraeducator gender statistics
79.6% of special education paraeducators are women and 20.4% of special education paraeducators are men.
- Female, 79.6%
- Male, 20.4%
Special education paraeducator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 79.6% |
| Male | 20.4% |
Special education paraeducator gender pay gap
Women earn 99¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$29,843
Female income
$29,464
Special education paraeducator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in special education paraeducator positions over time. Currently, 79.6% of special education paraeducators are female.
Special education paraeducator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 18.25% | 81.75% |
| 2011 | 15.58% | 84.42% |
| 2012 | 18.45% | 81.55% |
| 2013 | 16.56% | 83.44% |
| 2014 | 16.99% | 83.01% |
| 2015 | 17.63% | 82.37% |
| 2016 | 17.78% | 82.22% |
| 2017 | 17.83% | 82.17% |
| 2018 | 18.48% | 81.52% |
| 2019 | 17.72% | 82.28% |
| 2020 | 20.55% | 79.45% |
| 2021 | 20.44% | 79.56% |
Special education paraeducator related jobs gender ratio
We compared special education paraeducators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, auto collision repair instructor and automotive technology instructor have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development Associate Teacher | 3% | 97% |
| Prekindergarten Teacher | 5% | 95% |
| Infant And Toddler Teacher | 5% | 95% |
| Special Education Paraeducator | 20% | 80% |
| Automotive Instructor | 96% | 4% |
| Automotive Technology Instructor | 96% | 4% |
| Auto Collision Repair Instructor | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Special education paraeducator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among special education paraeducators is White, which makes up 71.6% of all special education paraeducators. Comparatively, 12.3% of special education paraeducators are Hispanic or Latino and 8.0% of special education paraeducators are Black or African American.
- White, 71.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 12.3%
- Black or African American, 8.0%
- Unknown, 4.0%
- Asian, 3.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Special education paraeducator race
| Special education paraeducator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 71.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12.3% |
| Black or African American | 8.0% |
| Unknown | 4.0% |
| Asian | 3.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Special education paraeducator race and ethnicity over time
See how special education paraeducator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Special education paraeducator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.50% | 9.80% | 2.28% | 10.07% |
| 2011 | 74.48% | 10.03% | 2.56% | 10.33% |
| 2012 | 75.84% | 8.42% | 2.78% | 10.64% |
| 2013 | 76.56% | 8.81% | 2.69% | 9.33% |
| 2014 | 73.70% | 9.68% | 3.36% | 10.61% |
| 2015 | 73.40% | 9.76% | 2.91% | 11.14% |
| 2016 | 73.07% | 9.30% | 3.02% | 11.28% |
| 2017 | 72.85% | 8.90% | 3.33% | 11.99% |
| 2018 | 73.78% | 7.91% | 3.28% | 12.29% |
| 2019 | 75.81% | 8.56% | 2.71% | 10.60% |
| 2020 | 72.69% | 8.19% | 3.31% | 11.50% |
| 2021 | 71.56% | 8.03% | 3.73% | 12.30% |
Special education paraeducator wage gap by race
According to our data, asian special education paraeducators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american special education paraeducators have the lowest average salary at $29,382.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $29,756 |
| White | $29,459 |
| Black or African American | $29,382 |
| Asian | $30,579 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $30,055 |
Average special education paraeducator age
See how the average age of special education paraeducators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Special education paraeducator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 42 | 47 |
| Unknown | 36 | 40 |
| Asian | 47 | 42.5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 40 | 41 |
| White | 42 | 42 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Special education paraeducator age breakdown
The average age of special education paraeducators is 40+ years years old, representing 58% of the special education paraeducator population.
Special education paraeducator age breakdown
| Special Education Paraeducator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 58% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 13% |
Special education paraeducator educational attainment
The most common degree for special education paraeducators is bachelor's degree, with 61% of special education paraeducators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 7%.
- Bachelor's, 61%
- Associate, 24%
- High School Diploma, 7%
- Master's, 6%
- Other Degrees, 2%
Special education paraeducators by degree level
| Special education paraeducator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 61% |
| Associate | 24% |
| High School Diploma | 7% |
| Master's | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 2% |
Special education paraeducator jobs you might like
Special education paraeducator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, special education paraeducators with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $35,384 annually. With a Master's degree, special education paraeducators earn a median annual income of $35,203 compared to $31,413 for special education paraeducators with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $35,203 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,413 |
| Doctorate Degree | $35,384 |
Special education paraeducator employment statistics
Most special education paraeducators work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where special education paraeducators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where special education paraeducators work.
Special education paraeducator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 13% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 29% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 27% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 11% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 16% |
| > 10,000 employees | 5% |
Special education paraeducator jobs by company type
Employees with the special education paraeducator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most special education paraeducators prefer to work at education companies over government companies.
Special education paraeducator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 87% |
| Public | 1% |
| Private | 6% |
| Government | 7% |
Special education paraeducator jobs by industry
The most common industries for special education paraeducators are education, government and health care.
Special education paraeducator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 85% |
| Government | 7% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Professional | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Special education paraeducator turnover and employment statistics
Special education paraeducator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for special education paraeducators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Special education paraeducator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Special education paraeducator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.76% |
| 2011 | 2.84% |
| 2012 | 2.73% |
| 2013 | 2.09% |
| 2014 | 2.34% |
| 2015 | 2.46% |
| 2016 | 1.61% |
| 2017 | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 0.99% |
| 2019 | 0.83% |
| 2020 | 1.65% |
| 2021 | 1.41% |
Average special education paraeducator tenure
The average special education paraeducator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 320 special education paraeducators resumes in Zippia's database.
Special education paraeducator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 21% |
| 1-2 years | 24% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 9% |
| 11+ years | 14% |
Special education paraeducator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of special education paraeducators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Infant Room Teacher | 5.04% | 77,927 |
| Special Education Paraeducator | 7.55% | - |
| 5th Grade Teacher | 8.89% | 57,358 |
| Photography Teacher | 11.94% | 53,042 |
Similar special education paraeducator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Infant Room Teacher | 5.04% | 77,927 |
| 5th Grade Teacher | 8.89% | 57,358 |
| Photography Teacher | 11.94% | 53,042 |
Foreign languages spoken by special education paraeducators
The most common foreign language among special education paraeducators is Spanish at 61.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 9.7% and Mandarin is the third-most popular at 6.5%.
- Spanish, 61.3%
- French, 9.7%
- Mandarin, 6.5%
- Chinese, 3.2%
- German, 3.2%
- Other, 16.1%
Special education paraeducator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 61.3% |
| French | 9.7% |
| Mandarin | 6.5% |
| Chinese | 3.2% |
| German | 3.2% |
| Other | 16.1% |
