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Education

Teaching Assistants, Special Education

Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher to provide academic, social, or life skills to students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

Median salary (BLS)

$36,780

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$27k – $50k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $85,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Teaching Assistants, Special Education

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Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$8,100–$22,700

Time to qualify

2.3 yr

Renewal

$20/yr

  1. 1

    Associate degree (community college)

    Degree

    Two years at in-district rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $4,050/yr, plus ~$1,200/yr books & supplies.

    $8,000–$22,000 · 2 years source

  2. 2

    State teaching certification

    License

    Approved educator-prep program, pedagogy & subject exams, background check, and a state application.

    $100–$700 · 3 months · varies by state · renews every 5 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Teaching Assistants, Special Education" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Teaching Assistants, Special Education

    Entry / Junior

    $27,150

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Teaching Assistants, Special Education

    Established

    $36,780

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Teaching Assistants, Special Education

    Senior

    $43,410

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Provide assistance to students with special needs.
  • •Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
  • •Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
  • •Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
  • •Carry out therapeutic regimens, such as behavior modification and personal development programs, under the supervision of special education instructors, psychologists, or speech-language pathologists.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Education

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.