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Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $36,780 Median per year Most earn $27,150–$50,040

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Laminate teaching materials to increase their durability under repeated use.
  • Clean classrooms.
  • Prepare lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations.
  • Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, supervised role-playing methods, or by reading aloud.
  • Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
  • Maintain computers in classrooms and laboratories, and assist students with hardware and software use.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 176,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't break this career out by industry.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

Teaching assistant is an entry-level job. Many people start within a few months of finishing high school or a short training program, usually after about 3 to 6 months of related experience. Requirements vary by school district and state, so check local job postings.

  1. High school diploma or equivalent

    4 years

    Finish high school with good reading, writing, and math skills, since you will help students with these every day.

  2. Child development or early childhood education certificate (optional)

    3-6 months

    A short certificate or training course teaches you how young children learn and how to manage a classroom, and it can make you a stronger candidate.

  3. Teaching Assistant, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School

    3-6 months of prior experience to get hired

    You work under a licensed teacher, supporting lessons, small groups, and classroom routines. Your experience with kids is what gets you hired.

Where it can lead

  1. Elementary School Teacher

    Depends on your degree and licensing timeline of experience first

    Earn a bachelor's degree and a teaching license, and you can lead your own classroom. Experience as a teaching assistant helps you understand classroom life first.

  2. Special Education Teacher, Elementary School

    Depends on your degree and licensing timeline of experience first

    With a bachelor's degree and a special education license, you design and deliver individualized programs for students with learning or physical needs. Many people get there by first working as a teaching assistant.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take child development or early childhood classesIf your school offers them, these classes teach you how kids grow and learn, which is the core of this job.
  • Volunteer with younger kidsHelp at a library reading program, a community center, or a religious school to build comfort and patience with children.
  • Get a part-time or summer job at a camp or childcare centerWorking with children on a regular schedule gives you real experience and possibly a reference for future jobs.
  • Join a future teachers or family and consumer sciences clubClubs like these expose you to education careers and often include leadership and community service activities.
  • Tutor classmates or younger studentsExplaining material to others helps you practice the teaching skills that teaching assistants use every day.

In college

  • Take courses in child development, education, or psychologyThese classes give you a foundation in how children learn and behave, which helps you support teachers effectively.
  • Work as a campus tutor or childcare aidePaid or volunteer work with students builds experience you can list on applications for teaching assistant jobs.
  • Look into an early childhood education or paraprofessional certificateA certificate can meet the training many districts ask for and can make your application stand out.
  • Observe or volunteer in local K-12 classroomsSeeing real classrooms helps you decide which grade level you like and gives you experience to talk about in interviews.
  • Join an education student organizationCampus education groups offer networking, workshops, and sometimes chances to work with local schools.

Tips for getting started

  • Look at job postings in your area to see what your school district asks for, such as some college credit or a skills test, and plan your training around that.
  • Get any experience with children you can, including babysitting, camp counseling, or volunteering. Hiring managers want to see that you are comfortable around kids.
  • Check the career page for typical pay near you and nationally, so you know what to expect as you plan your next steps.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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