Career Services

Education Personnel

Nature of the Industry

Education is an important part of life. The type of level of education that an individual attains often influences such important aspects of life as occupational choice and earnings potential. Lifelong learning is important to acquire new knowledge and upgrade skills, particularly in this age of rapid technological and economic changes.

Educational services are provided in cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural areas throughout the Nation. The industry includes a variety of institutions that offered academic instruction, technical instruction, and other educational and training services to about 67 million students in 1998. Most students are enrolled in elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher learning. Of these, about 86 percent were enrolled in public schools and 14 percent were enrolled in private schools.

School attendance is compulsory, usually until age 16 to 18, in all 50 States and the District of Columbia, so elementary and secondary schools are the most numerous of all educational establishments, making up 37 percent of the educational services industry in 1997.

Higher education institutions accounted for about 8 percent of all educational establishments in 1997, and provide academic or technical courses or both in colleges, universities, professional schools, community or junior colleges, and technical institutes.

Establishments that make up the remainder of the educational services industry include libraries; vocational schools, such as data processing, business, secretarial, commercial art, practical nursing, and correspondence schools; and institutions providing a variety of specialized training and services, such as student exchange programs, curriculum development, and charm, drama, language, music, reading, modeling, and survival schools.

Workers in this industry take part in all aspects of education, from teaching and counseling students to driving school buses and serving cafeteria lunches. Although most occupations are professional, the industry employs many administrative support, managerial, service, and other workers

Ninety percent of Teacher Aides work in elementary and secondary schools, mostly in the lower grades. A significant number assist special education teachers in working with children who have disabilities. Most of the others work in child day care and religious organizations. (The U.S. Department of Labor reports that employment opportunities for teacher aides are expected to increase by 56 percent or more by the year 2008.

Teacher aides tutor and assist children in learning class material using the teacher's lesson plans, providing students with individualized attention. Aides also assist and supervise students in the cafeteria, schoolyard, school discipline center, or on field trips. They record grades, set up equipment, and help prepare materials for instruction.

In large school districts, some teacher aides are hired to perform exclusively non-instructional or clerical tasks, such as monitoring nonacademic settings. Playground and lunchroom attendants are examples of such aides. Most teacher aides, however, perform a combination of instructional and clerical duties. They generally instruct children, under the direction and guidance of teachers. They work with students individually or in small groups-listening while students read, reviewing or reinforcing class work, or helping them find information for reports.

At the secondary school level, teacher aides often specialize in a certain subject, such as math or science. Aides often take charge of special projects and prepare equipment or exhibits, such as for a science demonstration. Some aides work in computer laboratories, assisting students using computers and educational software programs. In addition to instructing, assisting, and supervising students, teacher aides grade tests and papers, check homework, keep health and attendance records, type, file, and duplicate materials. They also may stock supplies, operate audiovisual equipment, and keep classroom equipment in order.

Many teacher aides work extensively with special education students. Schools are becoming more inclusive, integrating special education students into general education classrooms. As a result, teacher aides in general education and special education classrooms increasingly assist students with disabilities. Aides may attend to a student's physical needs, including feeding, teaching good grooming habits, or assisting student riding the school bus. They also may provide personal attention to students with other special needs, such as those whose families live in poverty, or students who speak English as a second language or need remedial education. Aides help assess a student's progress by observing performance and recording relevant data.

Advancement:

Advancement for teacher aides, usually in the form of higher earnings or increased responsibility, comes primarily with experience or additional education. Some school districts provide time away from the job or tuition reimbursement so that teacher aides can earn their bachelor's degrees and pursue licensed teaching positions. In return for tuition reimbursement, aides are often required to commit to teaching a certain length of time for the school district.

Nationwide Job Outlook

Teacher aides held about 981,000 jobs in 1996. About 9 out of 10 worked in elementary and secondary schools, mostly in the lower grades. A significant number assisted special education teachers in working with children who have disabilities. Most of the others worked in child daycare centers and religious organizations. Employment of teacher aides is expected to grow much faster than the national average for all occupations through the year 2006.

Salary Range

A typical Teacher Aide working in Dallas, TX is expected to earn a median base salary of $15,765. Half of the people in this job are expected to earn between $15,159 and $18,346 (i.e., between the 25th and 75th percentiles). These numbers are based on national averages adjusted by geographic salary differentials.

» Go Back «