What Do Classroom Assistants Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for classroom assistants?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what classroom assistants do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Classroom Assistants Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about classroom assistants by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Classroom Assistants teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Popular Job Titles For Classroom Assistants
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Early Intervention Specialists
- Early Interventionists
- Preschool Special Education Teachers
- Early Intervention Teachers
- Early Intervention Service Coordinators
- Preschool Special Needs Teachers
- Early Childhood Special Educators
- Directors of Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Teachers
- Injury Prevention Specialists
- Early Intervention Occupational Therapists
- Classroom Teachers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for classroom assistants can be found.
Best Industries for Classroom Assistants
Classroom Assistants Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 59.3%
- Child Day Care Services: 16.8%
- Individual and Family Services: 7.2%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 5.6%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 5.1%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 3.5%
- Other: 2.5%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of classroom assistants can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 59.3% of all jobs for classroom assistants were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Child Day Care Services (16.8%), Individual and Family Services (7.2%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (5.6%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (5.1%) and Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (3.5%).
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Degree Options for Classroom Assistants
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- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
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- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Classroom Assistants Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what classroom assistants do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work classroom assistants do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that classroom assistants tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for classroom assistants, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Classroom Assistants
Based on 2,637 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Classroom Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention | 2,010 | 76% |
| Special Education | 1,499 | 57% |
| Child Development | 865 | 33% |
| Preschool Education | 777 | 29% |
| Psychology | 653 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Classroom Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 873 | 33% |
| Teaching | 745 | 28% |
| Coaching | 430 | 16% |
| Organizational Skills | 386 | 15% |
| Multilingualism | 381 | 14% |
Based on 2,637 job postings related to classroom assistants, early intervention was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 76% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for special education, child development, preschool education, psychology and individualized family service plans (ifsp) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for classroom assistants, followed by teaching, coaching, organizational skills, multilingualism and coordinating.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention | 2,010 | 76% |
| Special Education | 1,499 | 57% |
| Child Development | 865 | 33% |
| Preschool Education | 777 | 29% |
| Psychology | 653 | 25% |
| Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) | 552 | 21% |
| Working With Children | 522 | 20% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 460 | 17% |
| Social Work | 455 | 17% |
| Disabilities | 441 | 17% |
| Developmental Psychology | 405 | 15% |
| Sociology | 346 | 13% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 331 | 13% |
| Human Development | 296 | 11% |
| Mental Health | 246 | 9% |
| Life Skills Development | 190 | 7% |
| Primary Education | 187 | 7% |
| Effective Communication | 183 | 7% |
| Speech-Language Pathology | 183 | 7% |
| Behavioral Health | 179 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 873 | 33% |
| Teaching | 745 | 28% |
| Coaching | 430 | 16% |
| Organizational Skills | 386 | 15% |
| Multilingualism | 381 | 14% |
| Coordinating | 353 | 13% |
| Planning | 348 | 13% |
| Writing | 326 | 12% |
| Advocacy | 315 | 12% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 248 | 9% |
| Detail Oriented | 230 | 9% |
| Spanish Language | 229 | 9% |
| Ability To Meet Deadlines | 209 | 8% |
| Computer Literacy | 194 | 7% |
| Multitasking | 186 | 7% |
| Leadership | 185 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 183 | 7% |
| Management | 179 | 7% |
| Problem Solving | 174 | 7% |
| Research | 171 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Classroom Assistants
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention Specialists | 3,470 | 48.1% |
| Early Interventionists | 1,585 | 22% |
| Preschool Special Education Teachers | 1,178 | 16.3% |
| Early Intervention Teachers | 451 | 6.3% |
| Early Intervention Service Coordinators | 67 | 0.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was early intervention specialists, with 1,152 unique job postings. Early interventionists were second, with 369 postings, followed by preschool special education teachers, early intervention teachers and early intervention service coordinators.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to classroom assistants.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention Specialists | 3,470 | 48.1% |
| Early Interventionists | 1,585 | 22% |
| Preschool Special Education Teachers | 1,178 | 16.3% |
| Early Intervention Teachers | 451 | 6.3% |
| Early Intervention Service Coordinators | 67 | 0.9% |
| Preschool Special Needs Teachers | 54 | 0.7% |
| Early Childhood Special Educators | 38 | 0.5% |
| Directors of Early Childhood Education | 45 | 0.6% |
| Early Childhood Teachers | 37 | 0.5% |
| Injury Prevention Specialists | 33 | 0.5% |
| Early Intervention Occupational Therapists | 63 | 0.9% |
| Classroom Teachers | 25 | 0.3% |
| Preschool Instructors | 20 | 0.3% |
| Classroom Assistants | 35 | 0.5% |
| Mental Health Professionals | 11 | 0.2% |
| Mild/Moderate Special Education Teachers | 11 | 0.2% |
| Preschool Paraprofessionals | 9 | 0.1% |
| Certified Special Education Teachers | 66 | 0.9% |
| Early Childhood Intervention Specialists | 7 | 0.1% |
| Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers | 8 | 0.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for classroom assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for classroom assistants.
How much do classroom assistants make?
Classroom Assistants: How do you become one?
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