Teaching assistants support teachers and students in preschool through secondary classrooms. You help with instruction, manage student behavior, and create a positive learning environment. You can start with a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Teaching assistants work alongside teachers to help students learn and develop. You assist with instruction by working with small groups or individual students, monitor student behavior and progress, and help resolve conflicts in the classroom. You support teachers by preparing materials, organizing activities, and keeping records. You also help create a safe, welcoming classroom environment where students feel supported. The work requires you to listen actively to students and colleagues, think creatively about how to help different learners, and make quick decisions to keep the classroom running smoothly.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education earn a median of $36,780 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is softer here. Employment is projected to fall 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, though there are still about 170,400 openings a year from turnover.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most teaching assistant positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. Some schools may ask you to pass a background check or complete basic training before you start. Once hired, you'll learn on the job from experienced teachers and staff. Some assistants pursue additional credentials or education while working, which can lead to advancement. Your employer typically provides training specific to your school's practices, curriculum, and student needs. Starting as a teaching assistant is a direct path if you want to work in education without a four-year degree.
Teaching assistant roles vary by school and grade level, so exploring what fits your interests and schedule matters. Use Pathly can map the teaching assistant, preschool, elementary, middle, and secondary school, except special education path that fits you to map out your next steps with your counselor and turn your goal into a concrete plan.
Many teaching assistant, preschool, elementary, middle, and secondary school, except special educations must be licensed to practice.
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You thrive in social roles where you support and care for others. You enjoy working with students, collaborating with teachers, and building relationships in a team environment.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).