ParaPro Salary Guide by State
What teaching assistants earn in each state and the District of Columbia, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is set by each district, so check the salary schedule of the district you are applying to.
Median Pay by State
Sorted from the highest median to the lowest
| Rank | State | Median annual pay | Middle 50% of earners | State page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $49,120 | $43,270 to $58,080 | View state page |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $46,920 | $40,080 to $49,330 | View state page |
| 3 | Maine | $46,750 | $38,630 to $49,990 | View state page |
| 4 | California | $46,490 | $39,590 to $49,550 | View state page |
| 5 | Vermont | $43,800 | $36,040 to $47,540 | View state page |
| 6 | Minnesota | $40,100 | $36,860 to $46,890 | View state page |
| 7 | Oregon | $39,850 | $35,860 to $47,180 | View state page |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $39,380 | $32,870 to $48,870 | View state page |
| 9 | Virginia | $38,520 | $32,590 to $46,630 | View state page |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $38,440 | $36,090 to $45,790 | View state page |
| 11 | New York | $38,240 | $35,670 to $46,700 | View state page |
| 12 | North Dakota | $38,240 | $35,990 to $44,570 | View state page |
| 13 | Connecticut | $38,110 | $34,390 to $45,860 | View state page |
| 14 | Delaware | $37,830 | $34,900 to $46,300 | View state page |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $37,800 | $35,350 to $42,590 | View state page |
| 16 | New Jersey | $37,290 | $34,040 to $45,350 | View state page |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $37,220 | $31,200 to $44,000 | View state page |
| 18 | Alaska | $37,190 | $29,390 to $47,090 | View state page |
| 19 | Maryland | $37,060 | $34,520 to $48,090 | View state page |
| 20 | Utah | $37,050 | $32,260 to $43,180 | View state page |
| 21 | Illinois | $36,990 | $31,360 to $44,790 | View state page |
| 22 | Hawaii | $36,810 | $35,840 to $45,470 | View state page |
| 23 | Missouri | $36,300 | $29,070 to $40,110 | View state page |
| 24 | Wyoming | $36,100 | $31,000 to $38,170 | View state page |
| 25 | Ohio | $35,920 | $29,240 to $39,550 | View state page |
| 26 | Arizona | $35,900 | $33,690 to $38,570 | View state page |
| 27 | New Mexico | $35,900 | $28,990 to $43,580 | View state page |
| 28 | Colorado | $35,760 | $30,800 to $43,900 | View state page |
| 29 | Idaho | $35,560 | $29,460 to $38,010 | View state page |
| 30 | Nebraska | $35,160 | $28,080 to $37,850 | View state page |
| 31 | Michigan | $35,110 | $30,040 to $37,960 | View state page |
| 32 | Montana | $34,750 | $29,390 to $37,510 | View state page |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $34,740 | $29,090 to $37,500 | View state page |
| 34 | Florida | $34,430 | $30,230 to $36,790 | View state page |
| 35 | Indiana | $33,300 | $29,190 to $36,980 | View state page |
| 36 | Nevada | $31,900 | $30,810 to $39,500 | View state page |
| 37 | Iowa | $30,510 | $28,060 to $35,530 | View state page |
| 38 | Kentucky | $30,160 | $27,810 to $37,100 | View state page |
| 39 | Texas | $29,850 | $24,210 to $36,380 | View state page |
| 40 | West Virginia | $29,800 | $28,920 to $35,550 | View state page |
| 41 | North Carolina | $29,790 | $28,110 to $35,600 | View state page |
| 42 | Kansas | $29,490 | $23,930 to $35,510 | View state page |
| 43 | Tennessee | $29,210 | $23,710 to $36,870 | View state page |
| 44 | Arkansas | $28,790 | $25,760 to $34,220 | View state page |
| 45 | Georgia | $28,770 | $23,120 to $35,750 | View state page |
| 46 | South Dakota | $28,220 | $26,530 to $30,990 | View state page |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $27,920 | $21,930 to $32,940 | View state page |
| 48 | South Carolina | $27,860 | $23,110 to $36,000 | View state page |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,400 | $22,070 to $33,410 | View state page |
| 50 | Mississippi | $25,840 | $22,040 to $29,000 | View state page |
| 51 | Alabama | $24,070 | $22,550 to $27,820 | View state page |
How to read this table
- The median is the middle value: half of the people in this occupation earn less and half earn more.
- The middle 50% range runs from the 25th percentile to the 75th. A quarter of earners are paid less than the lower figure and a quarter are paid more than the higher one.
- The figures are annual pay only. BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this occupation, so none is shown here.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary. The figures cover all employers, not only public schools. View the BLS table.
What sets pay in your district
Each district fixes its own pay and publishes a salary schedule. The BLS figures show the spread across a whole state; they are not an offer. Ask the district you are applying to how its schedule treats experience, college credits, certifications and extra duties. Our career advancement guide lists what to ask.
Salary Negotiation Tips
Maximize your compensation
What You Can Negotiate
- ✓ Starting Step
Credit for previous experience
- ✓ Lane Placement
Recognition of education/certifications
- ✓ Sign-on Bonus
For hard-to-fill positions
- ✓ Professional Development
Paid training opportunities
- ✓ Summer Work
Additional paid opportunities
Best Times to Negotiate
- 1 During initial job offer
- 2 After obtaining new certifications
- 3 When taking on additional responsibilities
- 4 During teacher shortages in your area
- 5 When changing districts
Check what your state requires
Pay is only half of it. Each state sets its own qualification route, so look up yours, then practice for the exam.