Who Earns What

How much does a teacher's aide make?

US Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
$36,780

a year · about $18 an hour

A typical teacher's aide in the United States makes $36,780 a year, about $18 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What do they do?

You might set out books and materials, then help a few students review a lesson or finish an assignment while the teacher leads the class. Later, you may take attendance, supervise lunch or recess, and tell the teacher how students are doing.

Did you know? Some aides help young adults with disabilities practice skills for getting a job or living independently after graduation.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$36,780
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $27,150 and $50,040
57 of 100
more than half

How do you become one?

In the U.S., public-school aides usually complete two years of college or earn an associate degree; some Title I schools accept a state or local test instead. Rules vary by state, and most states require a skills test for special-needs aides.

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., pay can vary with experience and credentials, location, and whether you work in a public school, private school, or childcare center. Part-time hours and school breaks can also change yearly earnings.

Where does it pay most?

Highest in Washington ($49,120), lowest in Alabama ($24,070).

See every state
Whole US$36,780
Washington$49,120
District of Columbia$46,920
Maine$46,750
California$46,490
Vermont$43,800
Louisiana$27,400
Mississippi$25,840
Alabama$24,070

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

Jobs like this

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Who earns more?
Data table and sources
Teacher's aide pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$27,150$36,780$50,040about 1.4 million
States where teacher's aides earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Washington$49,120about 43,000
District of Columbia$46,920about 4,000
Maine$46,750about 9,000
California$46,490about 177,000
Vermont$43,800about 5,000

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY