Where Do Paraprofessionals Get Paid The Most?

Paraprofessionals may not be as widely known as other educational roles such as a teacher or a principal, but they are a crucial part of the education system. Paraprofessionals may also be called a teachers aide, teachers assistant, or instructional aids.  Essentially paras support and assist licensed teachers to aid students directly. The primary role of a paraprofessional is to provide academic and behavioral support to students that require extra assistance. Typically, these students will have an IEP/504 plan that paraprofessionals are required to follow.

What determines a Paraprofessional Salary?

• Location: As for almost every career, the salary depends on the state and city. Each location has a different pay scale to go off of.
• Employer: Salaries are determined by the company or in this case, the district, you are applying to work for as they all pay differently
• Experience: Typically, the more experience you have, the higher the employer is willing to pay you.

What is the Average Paraprofessional Salary by State?

According to ZipRecruiter as of March 2024, New Jersey is the highest paying state for paraprofessional jobs.  ZipRecruiter gathered their data from salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons that derived from job postings and third party data sources. Below is a list of the top 12 states where the average salary for a paraprofessional job is above the national average. The national average salary for paraprofessionals is $34,266 per year. New Jersey beats the national average by 6.3%.

1. New Jersey
   1. Annual salary: $36,428
   2. Hourly Wage: $17.51
2. Wyoming
   1. Annual salary: $36,163
   2. Hourly Wage: $17.39
3. Wisconsin
   1. Annual Salary: $35,686
   2. Hourly Wage: $17.16
4. Washington
   1. Annual Salary: $35,597
   2. Hourly Wage: $17.11
5. Massachusetts
   1. Annual Salary: $35,437
   2. Hourly Wage: $17.04
6. Indiana
   1. Annual Salary: $35,383
   2. Hourly Wage: $17.01
7. Alaska
   1. Annual Salary: $35,381
   2. Hourly Wage: $17.01
8. Oregon
   1. Annual Salary: $35,127
   2. Hourly Wage: $16.89
9. North Dakota
   1. Annual Salary: $35,055
   2. Hourly Wage: $16.85
10. Arizona
    1. Annual Salary: $34,651
    2. Hourly Wage: $16.66
11. Hawaii
    1. Annual Salary: $34,369
    2. Hourly Wage: $16.52
12. New Mexico
    1. Annual Salary: $34,307
    2. Hourly Wage: $16.49

What are the Top Paying Cities for Paraprofessional Jobs in NJ?

Nationwide the average hourly salary for paraprofessionals is $16 per hour. The average hourly salary for paraprofessionals in New Jersey is $17.51 per hour. ZipRecruiter has identified the top 10 cities in New Jersey where the salary is typically higher than average.

1. Union City
2. Fort Lee
3. Passaic
4. Township of Washington
5. Weehawken
6. Whiting
7. Roselle
8. Laurelton
9. Bayonne
10. Colonia

If you’re looking for a paraprofessional job in NJ, head over to our list of hot jobs that are currently available! We are always searching for paraprofessionals to fill open jobs across New Jersey. If you have a passion to make a positive change in children’s lives, this is the perfect opportunity for you!