Paraprofessional Hourly Pay, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 24,141 US job postings by 4,984 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for paraprofessionals: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 24,141 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for paraprofessionals in US job postings is $18.50 an hour (5,197 postings from 1,373 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $16.60 to $21.50 an hour.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $19.09 an hour (367 postings).
- The skills that most set paraprofessional postings apart are patience, confidentiality, communicate effectively.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 2 years of experience.
Paraprofessional job postings in the US, October 2026
- $18.50/hr
- Median advertised pay (5,197 postings)
- $16.60–$21.50
- Middle 50% of postings
- $19.09/hr
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 24,141
- US job postings from 4,984 employers
How much does a paraprofessional make an hour?
The median advertised pay is $18.50 an hour, from 5,197 US job postings by 1,373 employers that state pay. That is about $38,000 a year at 2,080 hours.
Advertised pay in 5,197 US paraprofessional job postings: median $38,000 a year ($18.50 an hour), middle half $34,000 to $44,000.
- Median: $38,000 ($18.50/hr)
- 25th percentile: $34,000
- 75th percentile: $44,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.6% |
| $20K–$30K | 10.3% |
| $30K–$40K | 48.6% |
| $40K–$50K | 30.3% |
| $50K–$60K | 7.9% |
| $60K–$70K | 1.2% |
| $70K–$80K | 0.7% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $18.50 | $16.60–$21.50 | 3,854 | Paraprofessional, Assistant Teacher, Special Education Paraprofessional |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $30,000 | $25K–$36K | 416 | Paraprofessional, Teacher Assistant, Assistant Teacher |
| All pay postings, annualised | $38,000 | $34K–$44K | 5,197 | – |
What is the starting salary for a paraprofessional?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $19.09 an hour (367 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $19.09/hr | 367 |
| 2-4 years | $19.00/hr | 741 |
| 5+ years | withheld | 29 |
Highest-paying paraprofessional jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education Paraprofessional | $20.21/hr | 650 | 211 |
| Paraprofessional (general) | $19.01/hr | 1,534 | 483 |
| Teacher Assistant | $18.00/hr | 493 | 259 |
| Instructional Assistant | $17.54/hr | 625 | 214 |
| Special Education Aide | $17.26/hr | 486 | 132 |
| Assistant Teacher | $17.00/hr | 656 | 140 |
Paraprofessional pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $21.62/hr | $19.48–$23.38 | 292 | 11.7% |
| Massachusetts | $21.50/hr | $19.05–$25.39 | 178 | 5.3% |
| Washington | $21.38/hr | $18.70–$24.41 | 164 | 2.7% |
| Minnesota | $20.97/hr | $18.59–$22.55 | 233 | 2.4% |
| Colorado | $20.50/hr | $17.97–$22.31 | 212 | 2.7% |
| Connecticut | $19.29/hr | $18.39–$21.43 | 135 | 2.0% |
| PA | $18.32/hr | $16.50–$20.74 | 259 | 3.7% |
| Illinois | $18.25/hr | $16.88–$20.84 | 373 | 4.3% |
| New York | $18.25/hr | $17.00–$20.00 | 259 | 3.4% |
| New Jersey | $17.43/hr | $16.03–$21.35 | 168 | 2.2% |
| Missouri | $17.37/hr | $16.06–$18.72 | 102 | 1.8% |
| Arizona | $17.25/hr | $16.49–$18.87 | 131 | 2.5% |
| Iowa | $17.05/hr | $15.07–$17.48 | 188 | 2.6% |
| Michigan | $16.75/hr | $15.62–$17.91 | 137 | 3.2% |
| Indiana | $16.52/hr | $15.00–$17.78 | 120 | 2.3% |
| Ohio | $16.00/hr | $14.85–$18.97 | 250 | 3.8% |
| Texas | $15.32/hr | $13.15–$18.50 | 245 | 7.2% |
Skills employers ask for in paraprofessional job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 20% |
| Interpersonal skills | 14% |
| Communicate effectively | 10% |
| Confidentiality | 9% |
| Patience | 9% |
| Organizational skills | 9% |
| Flexibility | 7% |
| Problem-solving | 6% |
| Professionalism | 5% |
| Work independently | 5% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set paraprofessionals apart
- Patience9.3× as often as in all postings · 9%
- Confidentiality6.6× as often as in all postings · 9%
- Communicate effectively4.2× as often as in all postings · 10%
- Flexibility4.3× as often as in all postings · 7%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a paraprofessional job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a paraprofessional do?
Employers post these jobs as Instructional Assistant, Assistant Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Special Education Paraprofessional, Paraeducator and other titles. The largest specializations are Instructional Assistant (17%), Teacher Assistant (11%), Special Education Paraprofessional (9%), Special Education Aide (10%), Substitute Paraprofessional (4%), Assistant Teacher (11%).
The closest official occupation is Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education (25-9042.00). Its most important 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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a paraprofessional?
Among 2,968 postings that state a minimum, the median is 2 years. 1% say 0 years and 34% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 2,968 US paraprofessional job postings: median 2 years, and 34% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 4% |
| 1 yr | 30% |
| 2 yrs | 58% |
| 3-4 yrs | 6% |
| 5-7 yrs | 2% |
| 8-9 yrs | under 1% |
| 10+ yrs | under 1% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 64%, Part-time 36% of the 2,320 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a paraprofessional: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Paraprofessional | 1,078 (21.6%) |
| Instructional Assistant | 549 (11.0%) |
| Assistant Teacher | 453 (9.1%) |
| Teacher Assistant | 437 (8.8%) |
| Special Education Paraprofessional | 362 (7.3%) |
| Paraeducator | 326 (6.5%) |
| Instructional Aide | 291 (5.8%) |
| Teacher Aide | 130 (2.6%) |
| Educational Assistant | 127 (2.5%) |
| Special Education Aide | 123 (2.5%) |
| Substitute Paraprofessional | 115 (2.3%) |
| Special Education Assistant | 99 (2.0%) |
| Classroom Aide | 98 (2.0%) |
| Instructional Paraprofessional | 95 (1.9%) |
| Associate Teacher | 93 (1.9%) |
| Special Education Paraeducator | 92 (1.8%) |
| Classroom Assistant | 91 (1.8%) |
| Substitute Paraeducator | 90 (1.8%) |
| Teaching Assistant | 84 (1.7%) |
| Substitute Instructional Assistant | 84 (1.7%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Paraprofessional job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructional Assistant | 2,171 | 549 | $17.74/hr | 2 years | interpersonal skills, communication, confidentiality |
| Special Education Paraprofessional | 1,006 | 362 | $20.71/hr | – | communication, interpersonal skills, patience |
| Teacher Assistant | 1,314 | 437 | – | – | communication, interpersonal skills, communicate effectively |
| Assistant Teacher | 2,587 | 453 | $17.00/hr | 1 year | communication, interpersonal skills, organizational skills |
Paraprofessional vs Teacher Assistant
| Paraprofessional | Teacher Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 3,574 | 1,314 |
| Employers | 1,078 | 437 |
| Median advertised pay | $18.62/hr | – |
| Median experience asked | 2 years | – |
| Skills that stand out | – | – |
Paraprofessional compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paraprofessional | $18.50/hr | 2 years | 24,141 | – |
| Childcare Worker | $17.50/hr | 1 year | 11,091 | 14 |
| Youth Worker | $19.00/hr | 1 year | 2,074 | 15 |
| Sports Coach | $20.00/hr | 2 years | 26,885 | 11 |
| Police Officer | $71K | 2 years | 2,690 | 11 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | 14 | $17.50/hr |
| Youth Worker | 15 | $19.00/hr |
| Sports Coach | 11 | $20.00/hr |
| Police Officer | 11 | $71K |
| Teacher | 13 | $23.00/hr |
| Tutor | 12 | $21.88/hr |
Applying for paraprofessional jobs?
- Paraprofessional resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find paraprofessional jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Instructional Assistant make?
How much does a Special Education Paraprofessional make?
How much does an Assistant Teacher make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 18 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 17 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.