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Teaching assistant vs instructional paraprofessional

The differences between teaching assistants and instructional paraprofessionals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a teaching assistant has an average salary of $36,519, which is higher than the $31,835 average annual salary of an instructional paraprofessional.

The top three skills for a teaching assistant include lab experiments, laboratory experiments and TA. The most important skills for an instructional paraprofessional are mathematics, instructional materials, and IEP.

Teaching assistant vs instructional paraprofessional overview

Teaching AssistantInstructional Paraprofessional
Yearly salary$36,519$31,835
Hourly rate$17.56$15.31
Growth rate-4%
Number of jobs59,46549,766
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

Teaching assistant vs instructional paraprofessional salary

Teaching assistants and instructional paraprofessionals have different pay scales, as shown below.

Teaching AssistantInstructional Paraprofessional
Average salary$36,519$31,835
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $59,000Between $25,000 And $39,000
Highest paying CityPhiladelphia, PANew York, NY
Highest paying statePennsylvaniaWashington
Best paying companyPace UniversityBoston Public Schools
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between teaching assistant and instructional paraprofessional education

There are a few differences between a teaching assistant and an instructional paraprofessional in terms of educational background:

Teaching AssistantInstructional Paraprofessional
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common college-Northwestern University

Teaching assistant vs instructional paraprofessional demographics

Here are the differences between teaching assistants' and instructional paraprofessionals' demographics:

Teaching AssistantInstructional Paraprofessional
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 42.4% Female, 57.6%Male, 20.8% Female, 79.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 11.6% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 8.8% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between teaching assistant and instructional paraprofessional duties and responsibilities

Teaching assistant example responsibilities.

  • Lead well-received labs aim at students learning SAS including: data step, general regression models building and plots generating.
  • Develop and lead ELA lessons at the 8th grade level, with an emphasis on critical reading and literary analysis.
  • Assist classmates with developing positive study habits and strategies for managing classroom material.
  • Lead discussion sections for students to understand concepts including introductory quantum theory and statistical thermodynamics as well as their applications.
  • Develop expanded communication and teaching skills on explaining the human anatomy and its functions to achieve student understanding and patient education.
  • Organize and run review sessions design to help students better understand concepts of animal anatomy and physiology.
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Instructional paraprofessional example responsibilities.

  • Help ESL students achieve their academic goals while they learn a new language and adapt to a new community and culture.
  • Assist students with their educational needs in language arts, mathematics, social students and science.
  • Carry out behavior intervention techniques and ABA.
  • Provide administration and care of ABA and discrete trial training.
  • Verify the appropriate process and procedures that are necessary to fulfill IEP objectives.
  • Create a sensory chair to encourage a pre-k scholar to remain seat during the day.
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Teaching assistant vs instructional paraprofessional skills

Common teaching assistant skills
  • Lab Experiments, 20%
  • Laboratory Experiments, 10%
  • TA, 6%
  • Organic Chemistry, 6%
  • Mathematics, 6%
  • Undergraduate Courses, 4%
Common instructional paraprofessional skills
  • Mathematics, 9%
  • Instructional Materials, 7%
  • IEP, 7%
  • English Language, 6%
  • Direct Supervision, 5%
  • Educational Materials, 5%

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