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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

$35,240

Typical range

$24k – $48k

Job outlook

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Plan a path to Teaching Assistants, Special Education

Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Teaching Assistants, Special Education

    Entry / Junior

    $23,710

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Teaching Assistants, Special Education

    Established

    $35,240

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Teaching Assistants, Special Education

    Senior

    $41,690

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

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