by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Teacher Assistant/Aide involves the study of Teacher Assistant/aide. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist A Teacher In Regular Classroom Settings Or In Providing Instruction And Supervision To Special Student Populations, Such As Bilingual/bicultural Students, Special Education Students, Adult Learners, And Students Learning English. Includes Instruction In Techniques Of General Classroom Supervision, Maintaining Order, Assisting With Lessons And Carrying Out Related Assignments. Examples: [Early Childhood Education Teacher Assistant/aide], [Elementary Education Teacher Assistant/aide], [Special Education Teacher Assistant/aide], [Paraprofessional Educator]. Continue reading for the important information every teacher assistant/aide major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering teacher assistant/aide programs.
In the U.S., teacher assistant/aide is a widely-pursued major, with 2,543 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools ranking analyzes these 135 schools to determine the best overall colleges for teacher assistant/aide students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of teacher assistant/aide programs later in this article.
Studies in Teacher Assistant/Aide emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations teacher assistant/aide graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a teacher assistant/aide program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a teacher assistant/aide major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several teacher assistant/aide degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 638 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 756 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 10 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 587 |
People currently working in careers related to teacher assistant/aide tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 25.7% |
| Some college courses | 17.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.8% |
| Master’s degree | 8.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in teacher assistant/aide careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying teacher assistant/aide opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to teacher assistant/aide.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to teacher assistant/aide.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | 656,798 | 9.5% |
| Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education | 520,090 | 9.8% |
| Teaching Assistants, All Other | 257,714 | 11.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of teacher assistant/aide graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $19,820 |
| 4 years | $27,870 |
| 5 years | $30,544 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for teacher assistant/aide graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers teacher assistant/aide grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | $96,801 |
| Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education | $89,337 |
| Teaching Assistants, All Other | $37,615 |
With 135 different teacher assistant/aide programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased teacher assistant/aide school rankings to help you.
Those considering teacher assistant/aide, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants/Aides, Other | 1,322 |
| Adult Literacy Tutor/Instructor | 13 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
