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The differences between teacher assistants and substitute school teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a substitute school teacher has an average salary of $33,215, which is higher than the $27,103 average annual salary of a teacher assistant.
The top three skills for a teacher assistant include CPR, child care and mathematics. The most important skills for a substitute school teacher are classroom management, student learning, and classroom environment.
| Teacher Assistant | Substitute School Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $27,103 | $33,215 |
| Hourly rate | $13.03 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 77,358 | 82,842 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A substitute teacher is liable for providing learning instruction and managing classroom settings in the absence of the regular teacher. They are responsible for checking student attendance, explaining homework, and maintaining classroom cleanliness. They generally report to the principal at the school to which they are assigned. They plan and prepare lesson plans and teach students a variety of subjects, including English, science, and mathematics. Moreover, they ensure that the students are disciplined, and talk with parents and discuss the progress.
Teacher assistants and substitute school teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Teacher Assistant | Substitute School Teacher | |
| Average salary | $27,103 | $33,215 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $34,000 | Between $23,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Coventry, RI | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Oxnard Union High School District |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between a teacher assistant and a substitute school teacher in terms of educational background:
| Teacher Assistant | Substitute School Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between teacher assistants' and substitute school teachers' demographics:
| Teacher Assistant | Substitute School Teacher | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5% | Male, 32.3% Female, 67.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 7.9% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 11% |