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The differences between substitute teachers and teacher assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a substitute teacher has an average salary of $32,904, which is higher than the $27,103 average annual salary of a teacher assistant.
The top three skills for a substitute teacher include kids, math and help support. The most important skills for a teacher assistant are CPR, child care, and mathematics.
| Substitute Teacher | Teacher Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $32,904 | $27,103 |
| Hourly rate | $15.82 | $13.03 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 69,292 | 77,358 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Substitute teachers are responsible for filling in the role of regular teachers who will not be able to come to school. They may be engaged short-term or long-term, depending on the need. Substitute teachers should have a deep understanding of the topics that are related to the subject matter and are appropriate to the learning level of the student. They should be able to advance the lessons while the regular teacher is unavailable. At times, they are required to create their own lesson plans. Substitute teachers should have the skills of regular teachers. They should also be flexible and adaptable.
Teacher assistants are responsible for aiding teachers in their needs inside the classroom. They help teachers prepare for lessons in class, set up equipment, distribute educational materials to students, and monitor the progress of the students. Teacher assistants also help in managing the children in the classroom, as well as providing the necessary assistance a child may need. This may include helping with the lessons by going table to table, assisting in writing exercises, and tutoring kids one-to-one. Teacher assistants are required to have patience, flexibility, and classroom management skills.
Substitute teachers and teacher assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substitute Teacher | Teacher Assistant | |
| Average salary | $32,904 | $27,103 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $45,000 | Between $21,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Coventry, RI |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Ethical Culture Fieldston School | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Education | Finance |
There are a few differences between a substitute teacher and a teacher assistant in terms of educational background:
| Substitute Teacher | Teacher Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Duke University |
Here are the differences between substitute teachers' and teacher assistants' demographics:
| Substitute Teacher | Teacher Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.2% Female, 72.8% | Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 7.7% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 7.8% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 6% |