Paraprofessionals are known as the “backbone of the school.” They help with anything and everything, they often know the ins and outs of the school better than teachers, and their support makes the school community better. It’s no wonder that we think paraprofessionals should be paid more, but what is the average paraprofessional salary nationwide?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average paraprofessional salary ranges from $24,301 per year in West Virginia to $35,627 in New Jersey. That’s a big range.
What determines paraprofessional salary?
A paraprofessional salary depends on a variety of factors:
- Location: Each state and city has different pay scales.
- Educational background: Paraprofessionals with higher education credentials typically get paid more.
- Years of experience: The more years a paraprofessional has under their belt, the more they make.
- Employer: Each district (including public schools and charters) will pay differently.
- Job title: Special education paraprofessionals, who work specifically with students with special needs, generally have higher salaries. According to ZipRecruiter, special education paraprofessionals make an average of $35,255 per year, compared to the average for general paraprofessionals of $33,265.
ZipRecruiter compiled the average paraprofessional pay by state. Below are the average annual salary for each state as well as the hourly rates.
Top 15 states for paraprofessional salary:
1. New Jersey
David/New Jersey via Pixabay
Salary: $35,627
Hourly rate: $17.13
2. Wisconsin
David Mark/Wisconsin via Pixabay
Salary: $35,360
Hourly rate: $17.00
3. Wyoming
Ed Hathaway/Wyoming via Pixabay
Salary: $35,220
Hourly rate: $16.93
4. Nevada
Esudroff/Nevada Valley of Fire via Pixabay
Salary: $34,853
Hourly rate: $16.76
5. Massachusetts
David Mark/Boston, Massachusetts via Pixabay
Salary: $34,754
Hourly rate: $16.71
6. Indiana
David Mark/Indiana landscape via Pixabay
Salary: $34,718
Hourly rate: $16.69
7. Arizona
Bettina Horgard/Arizona via Pixabay
Salary: $34,704
Hourly rate: $16.69
8. Oregon
Hardebeck Media/Oregon via Pixabay
Salary: $34,136
Hourly rate: $16.41
9. Georgia
Sandra Lewis-Glass/Atlanta via Pixabay
Salary: $34,117
Hourly rate: $16.40
10. Minnesota
NecklandOakland/Cherry on a Spoon via Pixabay
Salary: $34,040
Hourly rate: $16.37
11. Washington
Deborah Jackson/Washington state via Pixabay
Salary: $33,734
Hourly rate: $16.00
12. Washington, D.C.
David Mark/Jefferson Memorial via Pixabay
Salary: $33,734
Hourly rate: $16.00
13. New York
Noel/New York via Pixabay
Salary: $33,703
Hourly rate: $16.20
14. Hawaii
Math/Hawaii volcano via Pixabay
Salary: $33,669
Hourly rate: $16.19
15. Montana
David Mark/Montana via Pixabay
Salary: $33,298
Hourly rate: $16.01
How do the rest of the states stack up?
16. Alaska
Salary: $32,984
Hourly rate: $15.85
17. Iowa
Salary: $32,677
Hourly rate: $15.71
18. Rhode Island
Salary: $32,243
Hourly rate: $15.50
19. Connecticut
Salary: $32,177
Hourly rate: $15.47
20. South Dakota
Salary: $32,162
Hourly rate: $15.46
21. North Dakota
Salary: $32,138
Hourly rate: $15.45
22. New Mexico
Salary: $32,035
Hourly rate: $15.40
23. Ohio
Salary: $31,724
Hourly rate: $15.25
24. California
Salary: $31,489
Hourly rate: $15.14
25. Tennessee
Salary: $31,052
Hourly rate: $14.93
26. Utah
Salary: $30,932
Hourly rate: $14.87
27. Illinois
Salary: $30,781
Hourly rate: $14.80
28. Virginia
Salary: $30,139
Hourly rate: $14.49
29. Maryland
Salary: $30,119
Hourly rate: $14.48
30. Vermont
Salary: $30,119
Hourly rate: $14.48
31. Mississippi
Salary: $29,802
Hourly rate: $14.33
32. Delaware
Salary: $29,684
Hourly rate: $14.27
33. Colorado
Salary: $29,624
Hourly rate: $14.24
34. Alabama
Salary: $29,330
Hourly rate: $14.10
35. Florida
Salary: $29,298
Hourly rate: $14.09
36. Maine
Salary: $28,826
Hourly rate: $13.86
37. Kansas
Salary: $28,646
Hourly rate: $13.77
38. Oklahoma
Salary: $28,634
Hourly rate: $13.77
39. South Carolina
Salary: $28,567
Hourly rate: $13.73
40. Louisiana
Salary: $28,382
Hourly rate: $13.65
41. Michigan
Salary: $28,336
Hourly rate: $13.62
42. Pennsylvania
Salary: $28,202
Hourly rate: $13.56
43. Missouri
Salary: $28,136
Hourly rate: $13.53
44. New Hampshire
Salary: $28,094
Hourly rate: $13.51
45. Texas
Salary: $27,927
Hourly rate: $13.43
46. Nebraska
Salary: $27,310
Hourly rate: $13.13
47. Idaho
Salary: $27,103
Hourly rate: $13.03
48. Kentucky
Salary: $26,343
Hourly rate: $12.67
49. North Carolina
Salary: $26,083
Hourly rate: $12.54
50. Arkansas
Salary: $25,879
Hourly rate: $12.44
51. West Virginia
Salary: $24,301
Hourly rate: $11.68
Check out the 2023 average teacher salaries by state.
How much does salary factor into your decision to pursue work as a paraprofessional? Share on our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
