Education and libraries
Teaching assistant
Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.
Median pay
$36,780
Growth to 2035
0%
little or no change
Openings a year
176,200
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Teaching assistant
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Some college, no degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Teaching assistant: 6% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
- Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
- Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
- Teach social skills to students.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
- Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, supervised role-playing methods, or by reading aloud.
- Clean classrooms.
Also called: Classroom Aide · Educational Assistant · Instructional Assistant · Kindergarten Assistant · Paraeducator · Paraprofessional · Preschool Aide · TA (Teacher Assistant)
Outlook and AI
Teaching assistants held 1,463,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 1,458,000 by 2035 (0%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Teaching assistant vs. Tutor
- Teaching assistant vs. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Teaching assistant vs. Elementary school teacher
- Teaching assistant vs. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Teaching assistant vs. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Teaching assistant vs. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Teaching assistant vs. Self-enrichment teacher
- Teaching assistant vs. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Teaching assistant vs. Special education teachers, middle school
- Teaching assistant vs. Instructional coordinator
- Teaching assistant vs. Special education teachers, preschool
- Teaching assistant vs. Kindergarten teachers, except special education