A teacher assistant, also known as a paraprofessional, is an employee who provides educational assistance to teachers and other staff members in both public and private schools. Teacher assistants are typically paid less than teachers, but their responsibilities can be extensive. They often work alongside regular classroom teachers in special education classrooms or other unique programs, helping students with physical needs or those who require additional attention before the lessons begin.
The North Carolina average salary for a teacher assistant is $26,300, while the national average salary is $19,500. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 14 percent employment growth rate over the course of the decade for teacher assistants across all industries.
Salary For Teacher Assistant In NC Overview
The average salary for a teacher assistant in North Carolina is $26,000 per year. The median hourly wage for a teacher assistant in the state is around $14.48 per hour.
The state of North Carolina has both public and private schools, so there are plenty of opportunities to find a teaching assistant job in this state.
Teacher assistants are paid based on their experience and education level, but some states require that they have a minimum amount of training before they can be hired as an assistant. The minimum requirements for hiring a teacher assistant vary from state to state, but many states require that you have at least an associate’s degree or 60 credit hours toward your bachelor’s degree before you can apply for these positions.
Teacher assistants work closely with teachers and students in order to help them accomplish their goals within the classroom setting. They often assist with planning lessons and organizing materials for each class period; however, depending on the school system where you work, there may be other responsibilities related specifically to special needs students (i.e., assisting with testing/evaluations).
In order to become eligible for these positions throughout North Carolina, you must first complete an application process which includes submitting official transcripts from all post-secondary education institutions attended as well as other relevant documents.
What Is A Teacher Aide
A Teacher Aide assists a classroom teacher in dealing with a large number of children. He/She or she helps engage children’s attention through one-on-one activities or group exercises. These are part of the integral lesson plan created by the teacher. They might be involved in helping the teacher design the lessons and activities or provide support for dealing with children with special needs.
Teacher aides help manage outdoor games and physical activities or assist with extra activities such as physiotherapy. Sometimes they are responsible for extra classes, like teaching a foreign language. They administer medication to students who need it and help with requests regarding personal hygiene.
Part of the responsibilities of a teacher’s aide is to monitor and discuss the child’s progress with the parents and other teachers.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a Teacher Aide. For example, did you know that they make an average of $13.5 an hour? That’s $28,088 a year!
Teacher Assistant/ Aide Jobs & Job Description
Under the direction of the classroom teacher, special education teacher or school administrative team, teaching aides support students with special needs both in and outside of the mainstream classroom environment. Teacher’s assistant roles vary somewhat between the elementary and the secondary level; outlined below are the tasks that each subset of assistant is likely to encounter.
Elementary School Teacher’s Assistant
More than a helper, an elementary teaching assistant is an accredited individual who has been briefed on a student’s educational needs and academic goals and works to carry out programming goals with the student from day to day. Elementary teaching assistants:
- Carry out measures to address student need in the classroom on a focused basis
- Act as a point of contact for internal stakeholders, classroom teachers and other students
- Understand theories of child and adolescent development and their concrete manifestations in the classroom
- Support teachers’ programming goals, and teaching strategies while reinforcing students’ learning strategies in the classroom
- Assist classroom teachers in documenting appropriate assessment data
- Engage in professional development on a continual basis
- Network in a professional manner with other support staff as the need arises
- Engage in active listening with students, parents and other stakeholders
- Promote and advocate for the school and district mission and vision statements
- Support academic and developmental goals that have been set for students – ensure that data collection is accurate and timely so that every success is measurable
- Support the school’s culture and practices for inclusion
- Conduct all work activities in a professional manner
- Demonstrate commitment to working in a diverse school community and/or work environment
High School Teaching Assistant
High school teaching assistants work hard to ensure that students with special needs are able to achieve success in the classroom, with proper programming from teachers, and additional professional support. High school teaching assistants:
- Work with students who have physical disabilities, cognitive impairments or developmental delays or those who have behavioral issues that affect learning
- Act as a daily point of contact for internal stakeholders and a student advocate
- Monitor and document school to work transitioning
- Keep rigorous data on accommodation and/or modification and/or alternate programming to classroom tasks
- Assist classroom teachers in implementing and tracking alternate teaching and learning strategies, such as roleplaying self-advocacy skills for students
- Engage in active listening with students and teachers
- Support students as they strive to meet academic and developmental – ensure that metrics are in place so that every small success is measurable
- Support the school’s culture and practices for inclusion
- Conduct all work activities in a professional manner
Certified teaching assistants at the elementary and secondary levels have many employment avenues open to them.
What Is The Average Teaching Assistant Salary in North Carolina?
The average teaching assistant salary in Raleigh, NC is $42,000 annually. The average hourly rate for a teaching assistant is $20.19/hr. This compares to the national average teaching assistant salary of $33,610. Below, we break down the average teaching assistant salary in Raleigh, NC by the highest paying companies and industries. You can also compare different types of teaching assistant salaries in and around Raleigh and a salary history chart that shows how the average salary for teaching assistants has changed over time in Raleigh.
Teaching Assistant’s Salary in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $33,610 | $2,801 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Become a Teacher’s Assistant in North Carolina
Those interested in becoming a teacher’s aide in North Carolina have a few options for college courses and exams before they apply for a job. Although an associate degree covers the educational requirement, a sufficient amount of college courses without a degree will also qualify.
Requirements for Teacher’s Assistant in North Carolina
| Average Salary for Teacher’s Aides in North Carolina (2019)* | $24,780 |
| Required Degree | Associate degree or forty-eight semester hours |
| Degree Field | None specified |
| Testing Requirements | COMPASS or ASSET or Accuplacer Tests for degree seekers; Work Keys Occupational Profile Assesments for Teacher Aides for non-degree seekers |
*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Step 1: Attend College Courses
Regardless of the field, all teacher aides are required to earn a total of forty-eight semester hours at a college or university. Another option is to earn an associate degree, which typically takes two years. Future teacher’s aides may choose to pursue an Associate in Science, a generalized degree that builds a foundation for a later four-year program. This associate degree could include classes such as conceptual physics, calculus, and introductory botany. Another degree, such as the Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration, exposes students to courses like business ethics, intro to e-commerce, and entrepreneurship.
Step 2: Pass Specific Exams
The type of testing required for teacher’s aides in North Carolina is determined by the career aspirations of anyone applying for a position as an aide. If planning to go on for a full post-secondary education program, students will go through one of three chosen tests. ACT has developed the COMPASS and ASSET tests, while the College Board administers the Accuplacer test for teacher’s aides. All three of the exams are designed to test mathematics abilities up to and including the pre-algebra level. The tests also include assessments in reading and writing. Once the chosen exam is concluded, the candidate is required to go through a grand total of ninety-six hours of professional staff development continuing education.
For those who do not wish to earn a degree, the ACT-developed Work Keys Occupational Profile Assessments for Teacher Aides is available to all potential candidates. The test includes three sections: Reading for Information, Writing, and Applied Mathematics. Once this exam is passed, employment is possible, and the same continuing education requirement for those seeking a degree applies to non-degree seekers.
Step 3: Apply for Positions
Currently, no license or certification is required for a position as a teacher’s aide in the state of North Carolina. After earning college credit and passing their chosen exam, those who wish to gain employment should keep their eyes on the Human Resources department of a given school system in North Carolina for available openings. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s website also points potential teachers toward the North Carolina Association of Teacher Assistants, which grants professional training opportunities. There is also the National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals, specifically catering to those in the educational field. Specific contact information at each school will be available on district websites.
Additional Resources for Teacher’s Assistant in North Carolina
To properly prepare for a career as a teacher’s aide in North Carolina, check out the database of practice material available on Study.com. You can find test guides and entire classes to help you review what you have already learned:
- ACT Compass Math Test
- Accuplacer WritePlacer
