Teachers Aide

Teacher’s aides (also known as teacher’s assistants) provide invaluable support to teachers in school systems and educational facilities across America. If you are looking for a job that is similar to that of a teacher’s aide, you might want to check out these related careers:

Child Care Workers

• What they do: Care for preschool aged children. They may also provide before and after-school care for children who attend school.
• Where they work: Various settings, including private households, preschools and day care centers.
• Typical duties: Teaching students basic academic skills and social skills needed for school. Other common duties include developmental activities, such as art, music and problem solving skills (often in the form of games). Child care workers can also help with pre-reading skills and incorporate some of the duties of a teacher’s aide into their job.
• Education and training: Vary greatly, from high school education to a college degree, depending on the setting in which you work. Working in a home environment generally requires less educational requirements than working in a preschool setting.
• Typical salary: $7 – $14 per hour

Library Technicians and Library Assistants

• What they do: Assist librarians in organizing and acquiring media. They also help library users to find information.
• Where they work: Libraries, which may include those that are private, public, or located in government buildings or schools.
• Typical duties: Clerical duties, such as organizing books, checking out customers, and answering basic questions. Technicians may have different or additional duties, such as running library programs or ordering materials. Depending on the facility you work in, teacher’s aide duties, such as tutoring may be a part of your duties.
• Education and training: Education for technicians varies greatly, depending on the setting. Assistants often require a high school diploma and receive on the job training.
• Typical salary: Technicians $8 – $22 per hour; Assistants $7 – $18 per hour

Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides

• What they do: Assist occupational therapists in providing rehabilitative services to people with physical, mental and developmental disabilities.
• Where they work: Hospitals, clinics, home health care and nursing care facilities.
• Typical duties: Aides often help with clerical tasks, as well as restocking supplies.  Assistants may have additional duties, such as helping clients with exercises and activities in treatment plans, recording progress and helping clients to transition learned skills into day-to-day life.
• Education and training: Therapist assistants usually need an Associate’s Degree, while aides usually receive on-the-job training.
• Typical salary: Assistants $31,000 – $65,000; Aides $18,000 – $47,000

Teachers (Kindergarten – 12^th grade)

• What they do: Help students develop academic skills and develop socially.
• Where they work: Public or private schools
• Typical duties: Activities may vary by age group, but generally involve lesson planning, teaching academics or related topics, and grading. Other duties may include encouraging social skills and problem solving skills, as well as fostering independence.
• Education and training: Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree, as well as licensure from the Department of Education.
• Typical salary: $31,000 – $80,000

Being a teacher’s aide can be a rewarding career, but it’s not necessarily for everyone.  If you like the idea of helping others, but want something just a little different, than you might want to find out more about careers in a related field to a teacher’s aide.