Teacher Assistant Salary By Experience |
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| Experience Level | Low Hourly | High Hourly | Low Annual | High Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 Year | $7.62 | $12.35 | $15,850.00 | $25,690.00 |
| 1-5 Years | $7.77 | $13.99 | $16,160.00 | $29,100.00 |
| 5-10 Years | $8.09 | $14.81 | $16,830.00 | $30,800.00 |
| 10 Years + | $8.31 | $17.69 | $17,280.00 | $36,800.00 |
Teaching assistants are individuals who are trained to provide educational reinforcement services to regular teachers by helping students with reviewing materials and engaging with them in one-on-one study sessions. Teacher assistants, also referred to as teacher aides, also promote adherence to class and school rules and help teachers in the supervision of students, whether in class, lunch, recess, and even in field trips.
In addition to duties related to monitoring students and their behavior, teacher assistants are also required to help prepare the classroom for class. They put chairs and desks in order, clean the blackboard, and make sure that pens and chalk are readily available. They also help teachers prepare for class by making charts, engaging in role playing, and reading tales and stories. Teachers may also assign some grading and marking tasks to assistants. In certain instances, regular teachers may ask their assistants for feedbacks and suggestions regarding a student's progress and behavior.
Outside the classroom, teacher assistants are still given responsibilities such as coaching students in sports and helping them with their laboratory projects and experiments. They may even offer tutoring services for slow learners and those who are having difficulties with class lessons. Other schools also assign teaching assistants to cafeteria duties and serve as lunchroom attendants during lunch time.
There were about 1,214,090 teaching assistants working in the United States as of May 2011. The national teaching assistant salary median is $23,580 a year. Teaching assistants belonging in the top 10% of earners are making over $36,560 a year while those in the bottom 10% earn under $17,090 per annum.
The majority of teaching assistants are working in elementary and secondary schools. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that there are about 963,420 connected to particular academic institutions, and that they are earning an average of $25,490 a year, which is slightly higher than the national average. Children day care centers come second, providing work for an approximated 103,060 who are raking in a teacher assistant salary of $21,290 a year.
Colleges and universities offer the best in employment opportunities and teaching assistant salary pay grades. About 26,190 teaching assistants are currently employed in colleges and universities, the third highest concentration of teacher assistants, and they are paid with an average wage rate of $30,900 a year, the highest salary average for the said occupation.
Other top paying industries for teaching assistants are: specialty hospitals, excluding substance and alcohol abuse centers ($29,480); firms in scientific research and development ($29,120); and psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals ($28,940). While these rates are very appealing to those who want to work as teaching assistants, entry to these sectors can be difficult due to the limited job options and the strict requirements needed for qualification.
It is important to understand that each employer has their own pre-set standards in establishing teaching assistant pay grades. There are several variables included in the equation, such as the existing demands for teacher assistants, the qualifications and requirements needed for a position, and the number of available and qualified personnel. Also included for consideration are factors such as working hours, environment, stress levels, work load, and employment benefits.
Requirements vary greatly from employer to employer, state to state. Some schools only require that teaching assistants to hold a high school diploma to qualify. Others look for an associate degree. Other states oblige candidates to take and pass a local assessment test. Those who want to work with children with special needs are obligated to pass a skills-based test.
Training and certification are offered by teaching organizations and unions. Although certification is not strictly enforced, teacher assistants who have affiliations with legitimate organizations have access to a lot of academic institutions and have higher chances of landing high-paying positions.
The teaching assistant profession is expected to grow by as much as 15% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics within the 2010-2020 decade. This growth is described as being as fast as the average for all occupations.
Demand for teacher assistants will increase in the future due to the growing number of students enrolling in public and private elementary and secondary schools. Since teacher assistants take a significant workload off regular teachers and they are cost effective, many academic institutions will hire them as a means of keeping within their staffing budget. The children enrolled in pre-school and nursery houses will also increase, prompting many establishments to hire teacher assistants.
Job prospects are looking good, especially for those who are still in the early phase of their careers. Many teaching assistants will soon leave the industry for other professions, opening doors for those who are at the entry level.
The career path of a teaching assistant is short. Many teaching assistants get to this profession to generate an income while undertaking higher education-related training. Without further qualifications, a teaching assistant will be significantly limited in his or her career advancement.
The majority of teacher assistants start their careers in schools, private and public, elementary and secondary. However, there are also those who are found working in colleges and universities. Some are even working at post-college level. As the academic institutions level up, so do the requirements and qualifications.
Listed are occupations closely related to the teaching assistant profession:
As mentioned earlier, the teaching assistant career is generally short, as many workers in this field are only in the industry to make income while studying or in between jobs. Their salary range is low compared to that of a fully qualified teacher, despite their day-to-day activities being quite similar, which is why many teaching assistants aspire to become a teacher themselves. Still, this profession provides individuals with a platform where they can make a positive impact on young people for life.