Hi out there! Just curious about the difference in pay in regions.
Here in Iowa we are starting at $7.12-14.00
Lunchroom workers start higher pay than starting paras.
How do other states compare?
Thanks for the information D
Sioux City Sue
Hi all
I live in a very rural area in Florida and work at the elementary school level as a Para for 4th grade students. I started (3 years ago) at $11K a year with full benefits (health, retirement program, dental, vision, life ins., disability, sick/personal leave). I am now earning a little over $14K, but that includes a 'step' raise of $1k for completing my Associates Degree training.
I live and work in San Diego county in a school district that has 24 schools from K through 12. I have been a paraprofessional (new term) for over 14 years. I am now making $ 16.00 approx. per hour/working a 30 hr. week. I do have benefits for myself that the district covers (medical,retirement,disability,sick/personal leaves,life&dental) I can, at this point in time, cover my husband and daughter for an additional $100.00 per month for med.& dental. We did not get a step raise when we had to become NCLB compliant and many of us have our Associate degrees. We are a union shop. It is sad that we do as much ans many of the teachers, yetget paid so very little in comaprison. Colette
I am a para in Va. I have been certified for about 9 years. It took us a few years to get a little bit more than those not certified. I have been a para for 21 years (this year). I make a little over $15,000 a yr. Do you get any benefits? We have sick leave & personal leave. BJ
Hi out there, I'm a new member :lol: and just learned about this site for Para's. As for wages, I work in a rural high school and I started out at 9.05/hr and after 3 yrs, I am now making 10.93/hr. I have a 2-yr degree in Office Administration and have been through the para workshops, and am certified as a sp. ed. para.
I will give you an idea of the rates of pay using 1999 pay scale in New York.
teacher aide 15,692 6 credits
educational assistant. 17,283 15 crediits
educational assist.A-1 17,525 30 "
educational assist. A-11 17,763 45 "
educational assist. B 18,439 60 "
educational associate 21,087 90 "
15 year longevity extra 1,110
I will be making $7.50/hr this year. This is my 7th year working as a teacher's "aide" (district term). It is a small rural district. I am considered full-time & recieve medical benefits, sick & personal days, even some paid holidays.
I agree with many of you that we are the lowest paid employees in the schools. I also realize the budget crisis many states are under. But, I do question why our district needs a superintendent plus 2 assistant supers :?: (all with their own secretaries) :!:
Although my job is providing instructional support in the special ed program, I am not considered an assistant because our district doesn't use them.
I'd like to hear about others' job titles- and does anyone know how to define what is considered "instructional"?
:wink: I just found this website but wanted to add my 2 cents =O)
I live and work in COlumbus Ohio as a certified Instructional Assistant and we start at 10.75 with a raise to 11.75 after the first year. Raises are given every two years after that.
I just found this website. I realize your response was years ago. However, I am an educational aide in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Are you in a union? Our local consists of 42 ed aides who are unhappy with our union. We are looking to join a union who will fight for us. We are tired of being the lowman on the totem pole, below janitors and cafeteria workers in wages and benefits. Any help?
Hi, I just found this website, and I live in New Jersey and have been an Aide for about 5 years and make $10.90/hr. We are considered P/T and work 29.5 hrs week. We have no benefits and we are also union. I am not happy with our union either. I feel that all they do is take our money. We don't have tenure or seniority. I also have to agree with one of the prior blogs that why do we need to be so top heavy Admin wise. Our cafeteria and clerical aides are at the same level as the para's. We are all under the same contract.
I have worked as a para in Oregon and am now looking for employment in WA state. In Oregon I started at $9.81. Scale one has steps 0-3, $9.81-$10.72 (ed assistants) and the second scale is for behavioral assistants and this has seven steps, steps 0-6 $11.19-14.59.
Looking for employment in WA, I have noticed a difference from district to district but it has been around $12.00-15.00. I actually just got a job at a private LD school and I will only be making $1,500 month (gross/salary) working full-time (hard to find 8hr) about $9.00. It looks like paraeducator pay is all over the board!!!! :roll:
Hi
I will be moving to Weat Palm Beach area in the next few months. What school are you going to work for.I have worked as a Para in New York for many years, at this time I also train Para. How can I find schools that are looking for paras in the West Palm Beach area
Joy
You should be happy that your state recognizes the value of a para. Do you have to have a degree? Here in SD, in my city, a new para starts at $6.90 /hour. BUT! I have been here for 5 years, and was hired at $5.15, so because of the hourly wage increase, I am now making 20 cents an hour LESS than a new para. Hopefully this will be rectified, and I'll be making about $7.80 this year through a new step process.
I made about $7200 this year.
In our state, you have to have 64 credit hours of college. I am taking on-line internet courses, and I'm also taking correspondence courses. Our state allows you to join a consortium, and then you have access to all 7 state colleges. I plan to take 12 credits a semester (including summer) and should get my degree in about 2 years.
Hi. I'm in SD and I started at $5.15 five years ago. I currently make $6.70 an hour. There is a proposal on the table for para's to go to $8.00 once we pass the ParaPro (pretty easy test). If we complete 48 credits, we would go to $10.00, and a 64 credit Paraprofessional Degree would earn $12.00 / hour. Right now starting paras get $6.90/hour. But, in another smaller town where there is an indian reservation and where federal funding is utilitized, wages are about $2.00 higher.
Hi, The starting pay is around $9.10 and each year get a 10 cent raise. BUT there has been a pay freeze for the last three years. It Bites! :x
Now they are making job cut's.
The wages in my town, a small beach community of about 25,00 people seems to be higher than most/all posted here. I am not bragging just commenting and letting others see and realize how strong the NEA Union here in Rhode Island is and could be in your state. Parapros currently earn$13.62/hr after 3 years. They start out at $10.39 for probationary pay. These are this years union contract wages. In 2004-2005 school year they go to Probationary pay: $12.38 and Step 3: 15.88. I have not seen any higher over a three year period. Our union representation for Parapros is excellent and the administration must feel we are worth it.
Hi, Im in south suburbs of Chicago, currently I am a teachers aide but have also been a paraprofessional, all coo-ops are different if they call you a paraprofessional or sign language interpreter you are paid better around $15.00, currently with a different coo-op and name change to teachers aide im at $11.05, same school though, funny huh. Also here by 2007' all paraeducators will need 60 credit hours or no job.
Im in Schenectady, NY and am considering a job as a Para. Does anyone know what the starting pay in this district is ? Also, are there any certifications required ?
Thanks,
Jo
Attend school at your local college. That is if they have a Paraprofessional
Program there for students that are interested. Call your local college and others in your area. They may be willing to send you this information, or you can go there to pick it up at the counselors office. Good luck!
Hi!,
My name is Rita and I'm new to this site, and am a Special Needs Paraprofessional.
I am a para who has been in Special Education for 8 years now. We start out at $10.65 a hour and after a year go up to 11.35 a hour. This year with a 3.6% raise and being with this district 4 years I am making 11.97 a hour and I work 6.5 hours per day with 2 personal days off pre year. We are going into a new contract this year and we are hoping to add steps for longevity for those who have been loyal employees for many years. I have noticed that we are low on the salary compared to the food service,bus drivers,custodians and even the secretaries too. I will try and keep in touch or you can email me and let me know how it is going as a para educator now that the new law came into effect. :lol:
Hi Kathy
I'm not a certified paraprofessional our district does not reconize
certification. It would mean a pay diffence.
See NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LEG.
I'm A full time lifeguard :o
:D
Hello everyone.
This area had quite a few posts, so I thought I would introduce myself here. I am currently exploring returning to school to get my Bachelor's in teaching (elementary). I currently have an AA.
I'm interested in knowing more about paraprofessionals...do districts post these jobs? In the school districts around me, I've never seen a listing for a paraprofessional in their job openings.
Any info on how to start, training, etc. would be welcomed from those of you already in the field. This might be a good alternative, or precursor to continuing my education.
Feel free to email me direct. Thanks so much.
Jalon
I've worked for Mesa Public Schools for a little over 6 years now in various positions from cafeteria food server to special ed. instructional aide, to night custodian and back to being an aide again. The best pay of course was custodial starting at 8.99 and after 2 years up to 9.98. Then when I changed to being an aide again I dropped down to 7.71 an hour.This is my 2nd year at this position and I am currently making 8.02 an hour. The most rewarding part of the job is actually working with the kids. I learn something new everyday from them. The new legislation though, may force me to back to custodial work, because what we get paid does not pay for the college classes we are being forced to attend.
Worked for MPS for over 6 years in various positions, the most rewarding as a paraprofessional
Hi Sioux City Sue, I am Kathy from Whiting just 30 miles south of you. I am an Elementary Computer Lab manager. I have been here for seven years. I am at $9.50 for wages. I am anxious to find out what will happen with the new legislation about para's being certified. Are you a certified para? Kathy :wink:
:roll:
Rochester, New York Parprofessionals
$11.000 - $23,000
I could be as much as $29, 000 pending years of service and special area
computer tech para, poolpara, bi-lingualpara ect.. after school programs, Title 1 ect. clubs
If we in all 50 states are required to become certified that title should
change to teacher asst. WE SHOULD RECIVE EXTRA $$$$$$
In my district, everyone is paid more than paras. Although we make up the biggest part of the support group, we have only 8 steps, the others have 10-14 steps. Even the night cleaning crew makes more money than paras.
I can't understand the push to have all paras to get more education, if pay does not increase.
Having just been hired as a paraprofessional - the pay scale in South Florida seems to be comparable to the rest of the country.
Starting wage- $7.76 to $12.07 8)
I saw your message about what paras make in your area and I was wondering if you like working there. I am in Plymouth Michigan. I am looking for a job as a para. I have an associate degree in Paraprofessional.
Cindy Piper
In Jackson Michigan, paraeducators start at $7.50/hr with H.S. diploma. We have a 4 step scale, for every 15 college credits earned, up to 45 credits currently. We top out at about $13.00/hr with more than 11 years and 45 credits. Of course, we will no longer be able to hire those with only a HS diploma since our buildings are School wide Title 1. Interestingly, I opened my local newspaper recently and read that we are "well paid", according to our superintendent who wanted to eliminate about 40 of us! Many of our lower seniority paras are part time, make about $7,000 per year. Low seniority paras, who will be laid off this fall, make about $13,000. I was very surprised to discover that is well paid!! :o :o
Our special education staff, called teacher assistants here, start at about $13.00/hr, top out around $15.50- 16.00, I think. We are separate local unions. Interpreters for the hearing impaired are paid more than that.
Hope this is what you need!
NinaB
Hi everyone - I'm new to the site and think that this is great!!
As far as the discussion on wages, I started as a para at a local elementary school here in Colorado about 2 months ago and I am earning $9.42 per hour. We pay into PERA (at 8%) but receive COLA adjustments and a small percentage increase after a 90 day evaluation etc., Benefits are offered but are a little expensive although we do accrue paid sick days and personal days and certain paid holidays. No pay however over the vacation periods!!
It's interesting to see the varying wages offered to us when we are all working in the same industry and basically doing the same job!!
###UPDATE###
I have now been in my school district for 2 years and I am currently earning just over $11/hr. Frequent step raises and COLA increases have raised my wages nicely - hopefully more to come...
I'm a teacher's aide in Western PA. The district I work for doesn't offer any benefits, sick time or personal time off. We get docked for snow delays, eary dismissals and don't get paid through the summer. Cafeteria workers and janitors make at least $5.00 a hour more than we do. Currently the aides in my building have banned together and asked for a raise and a few personal days and sick days. I have been with the district for about 6 years and work 110% everyday (so do the other aides)and I feel we deserve better!! Does anyone have any information that we can use to try and get a fair wage?
I have been working as a para now for about 2 years. Before that I worked in food service where I was paid about 1500.00 less than a Para. I had been in the cafe. for 5 years! Now I make about 11000.00 a year but I have benefits coming out. So in reality I gross about 982.00 a month and have 545.00 in deductions! I am in a High School setting and I love it. I also work with the Sped. Department Head so I am very busy! We are not part of a union and I just came across this web site and like others I had no idea there was such a site!
Tonya
Can anyone tell me if they are paid for snow days and vacations? I am also curious to learn if we can qualify for any benefits during our summer months when we are misplaced from work temporarily? I have just taken on a large rent payment and am a little concerned about my financial situation come the summer etc.,
Suffolk County, NY - BOCES Para Salary about $16,000 - 180 days a year, included medical/dental benefits, sick days and personal days. Rec'd benefits and salary year round. Was able to work summer schedule for extra pay and rec'd sub pay at the rate of $75 per day. Yearly salary then became about $22K with all considerations above. Only step scale, no recognition of credits beyond AS degree, which was necessary to obtain certification. Would appreciate hearing from other Long Island Para's on other School District pay. Supposedly, the BOCES scale is based on the L.I. average. Thanks.
by Anonymous (not verified) - 05/15/2007 - 10:07am
I have worked as a Para/Aide for 13 years in Kansas and I just now am making $9.95 an hour. I have done everything from Special Ed to lunch room help. Currently I run the grade school library and teach all library skills classes to K-6th grade. I order books, process them and do crafts and puppet shows. I do lesson plans myself and also teach the reference materials for 3rd-6th grade. Next year I will be doing Kindergarten art on top of this. I think it is crazy what a Para gets paid! Here it is less than a sub. I love working with children and feel like I do well at my job, I have 2 years of college and go to any training the district will allow. Many times I feel like finding something else to make more money.
I work as a special ed para in rural Minnesota. I have been with this school district for 19 years. I now make $13.46 per hour. We have sick leave we can accumulate up to 100 days (I am at 100 days - I know - that's crazy, but, I'm rarely sick!!). We do not get paid for snow days, we have 2 paid holidays, we have 0 personal days, we do not get paid for any in-service days and they will not spread our pay out over the summer. We were required to do the competencies as required by NCLB and believe me - our district made us work. I have a huge portfolio and spent many, many unpaid hours attending classes and completing the paperwork!!!!
In Scranton, PA. we make anywhere from $14,000.00 to $24,000.00. We are in negotiations now and hope to improve that. We have recieved our State Certifaication and Special Ed. Credentials. We take ER&D classes to keep up with the changes. We also have 16 steps to climb before getting top pay. (POVERTY). This is a contract year so we are hoping to make many changes. We finally have a union that is willing to work with us and fight for our wages. We are doing everything imaginable to better ourselves in the classroom, we even have two blue ribbon schools that Paras helped to accomplish. We have numerous Paras in our district 98 to be exact. Bilingual, Learning Support, Life Skills, Autism, Physical Disabled, Pre-School, Kindergarten and Title One. What we need to do is exchange copies of our contracts and compare them. Are many of you in a Teachers union, or a Representative?
Wages/Florida
wages
I live and work in San Diego county in a school district that has 24 schools from K through 12. I have been a paraprofessional (new term) for over 14 years. I am now making $ 16.00 approx. per hour/working a 30 hr. week. I do have benefits for myself that the district covers (medical,retirement,disability,sick/personal leaves,life&dental) I can, at this point in time, cover my husband and daughter for an additional $100.00 per month for med.& dental. We did not get a step raise when we had to become NCLB compliant and many of us have our Associate degrees. We are a union shop. It is sad that we do as much ans many of the teachers, yetget paid so very little in comaprison. Colette
Wages
Wages
Wages
Salary for para
Pay in Upstate NY
Wages
I just found this website. I
I just found this website. I realize your response was years ago. However, I am an educational aide in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Are you in a union? Our local consists of 42 ed aides who are unhappy with our union. We are looking to join a union who will fight for us. We are tired of being the lowman on the totem pole, below janitors and cafeteria workers in wages and benefits. Any help?
Hi, I just found this
Hi, I just found this website, and I live in New Jersey and have been an Aide for about 5 years and make $10.90/hr. We are considered P/T and work 29.5 hrs week. We have no benefits and we are also union. I am not happy with our union either. I feel that all they do is take our money. We don't have tenure or seniority. I also have to agree with one of the prior blogs that why do we need to be so top heavy Admin wise. Our cafeteria and clerical aides are at the same level as the para's. We are all under the same contract.
para wages
Paras in south Florida
Wages
Wages
Wages
pay wage in Sandpoint, ID
Narragansett, RI Wages for Parapros
Wages
Wages
Wages
Hi!,
My name is Rita and I'm new to this site, and am a Special Needs Paraprofessional.
Wages
Hi!,
My name is Rita and I'm new to this site, and am a Special Needs Paraprofessional.
Wages
wages
Wages
Wages in Washington State
Wages
Wages
Jalon
Wages in Mesa,AZ
Worked for MPS for over 6 years in various positions, the most rewarding as a paraprofessional
Wages
Wages
Wages
Wages
Wages
wages
texas wages
I made less than 9,000 last year. I also live in Texas.
Paraprofessional in Texas
Do you know if being bilingual the wage is higher??
I live in Austin, Tx
Do you like working in Jackson?
Wages
Wages
Wages
This is my second year as a certified Para in Louisiana I get 10,200.00 before taxes. I also have all benifits and get paid 12 months of the year.
Wages
Hi everyone - I'm new to the site and think that this is great!!
As far as the discussion on wages, I started as a para at a local elementary school here in Colorado about 2 months ago and I am earning $9.42 per hour. We pay into PERA (at 8%) but receive COLA adjustments and a small percentage increase after a 90 day evaluation etc., Benefits are offered but are a little expensive although we do accrue paid sick days and personal days and certain paid holidays. No pay however over the vacation periods!!
It's interesting to see the varying wages offered to us when we are all working in the same industry and basically doing the same job!!
###UPDATE###
I have now been in my school district for 2 years and I am currently earning just over $11/hr. Frequent step raises and COLA increases have raised my wages nicely - hopefully more to come...
I came a cross a good blog
I came a cross a good blog post on paraeducator wages that I wanted to pass on:
Para Pay
wages
I'm a teacher's aide in Western PA. The district I work for doesn't offer any benefits, sick time or personal time off. We get docked for snow delays, eary dismissals and don't get paid through the summer. Cafeteria workers and janitors make at least $5.00 a hour more than we do. Currently the aides in my building have banned together and asked for a raise and a few personal days and sick days. I have been with the district for about 6 years and work 110% everyday (so do the other aides)and I feel we deserve better!! Does anyone have any information that we can use to try and get a fair wage?
Para in Douglasville, GA
I have been working as a para now for about 2 years. Before that I worked in food service where I was paid about 1500.00 less than a Para. I had been in the cafe. for 5 years! Now I make about 11000.00 a year but I have benefits coming out. So in reality I gross about 982.00 a month and have 545.00 in deductions! I am in a High School setting and I love it. I also work with the Sped. Department Head so I am very busy! We are not part of a union and I just came across this web site and like others I had no idea there was such a site!
Tonya
Vacation and Snow days?
Can anyone tell me if they are paid for snow days and vacations? I am also curious to learn if we can qualify for any benefits during our summer months when we are misplaced from work temporarily? I have just taken on a large rent payment and am a little concerned about my financial situation come the summer etc.,
Wages
Suffolk County, NY - BOCES Para Salary about $16,000 - 180 days a year, included medical/dental benefits, sick days and personal days. Rec'd benefits and salary year round. Was able to work summer schedule for extra pay and rec'd sub pay at the rate of $75 per day. Yearly salary then became about $22K with all considerations above. Only step scale, no recognition of credits beyond AS degree, which was necessary to obtain certification. Would appreciate hearing from other Long Island Para's on other School District pay. Supposedly, the BOCES scale is based on the L.I. average. Thanks.
Wages
I have worked as a Para/Aide for 13 years in Kansas and I just now am making $9.95 an hour. I have done everything from Special Ed to lunch room help. Currently I run the grade school library and teach all library skills classes to K-6th grade. I order books, process them and do crafts and puppet shows. I do lesson plans myself and also teach the reference materials for 3rd-6th grade. Next year I will be doing Kindergarten art on top of this. I think it is crazy what a Para gets paid! Here it is less than a sub. I love working with children and feel like I do well at my job, I have 2 years of college and go to any training the district will allow. Many times I feel like finding something else to make more money.
Pay
I work as a special ed para in rural Minnesota. I have been with this school district for 19 years. I now make $13.46 per hour. We have sick leave we can accumulate up to 100 days (I am at 100 days - I know - that's crazy, but, I'm rarely sick!!). We do not get paid for snow days, we have 2 paid holidays, we have 0 personal days, we do not get paid for any in-service days and they will not spread our pay out over the summer. We were required to do the competencies as required by NCLB and believe me - our district made us work. I have a huge portfolio and spent many, many unpaid hours attending classes and completing the paperwork!!!!
wages
does anyone know what kind of benefits and wages Boces of Steuben county in NY pay and do they pay like the schools only 10 months of the year
wages
Hello,
In Scranton, PA. we make anywhere from $14,000.00 to $24,000.00. We are in negotiations now and hope to improve that. We have recieved our State Certifaication and Special Ed. Credentials. We take ER&D classes to keep up with the changes. We also have 16 steps to climb before getting top pay. (POVERTY). This is a contract year so we are hoping to make many changes. We finally have a union that is willing to work with us and fight for our wages. We are doing everything imaginable to better ourselves in the classroom, we even have two blue ribbon schools that Paras helped to accomplish. We have numerous Paras in our district 98 to be exact. Bilingual, Learning Support, Life Skills, Autism, Physical Disabled, Pre-School, Kindergarten and Title One. What we need to do is exchange copies of our contracts and compare them. Are many of you in a Teachers union, or a Representative?
Post new comment