How Much Does a Teacher Aide Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$36,780
Teacher aides in the U.S. earn a median of $36,780 a year. Half of teacher aides earn more than $36,780 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $50,040.
Pay percentiles for teacher aides
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
| 10th | $27,150 |
| 25th | $31,060 |
| 50th (median) | $36,780 |
| 75th | $45,360 |
| 90th | $50,040 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary (SOC 25-9045). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
BLS reports only annual wages for teacher aides, because most are paid a yearly salary and often work a school or contract year rather than 2,080 hours. We do not convert these figures to an hourly rate.
Highest-paying states for teacher aides
| State | Median annual | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $49,120 | +34% |
| District of Columbia | $46,920 | +28% |
| Maine | $46,750 | +27% |
| California | $46,490 | +26% |
| Vermont | $43,800 | +19% |
| Minnesota | $40,100 | +9% |
| Oregon | $39,850 | +8% |
| Massachusetts | $39,380 | +7% |
| Virginia | $38,520 | +5% |
| New Hampshire | $38,440 | +5% |
| United States | $36,780 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many teacher aides are there?
BLS counts about 1,420,350 teacher aides employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary”. The most jobs are in California (177,140), New York (137,820) and Texas (108,960).
The mean (average) annual wage is $38,290, higher than the median of $36,780.
Frequently asked questions
How much do teacher aides make an hour?
BLS publishes only annual wages for teacher aides, because most are paid a salary and work fewer than 2,080 hours a year. The median annual wage is $36,780.
Which state pays teacher aides the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for teacher aides at $49,120, +34% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for teacher aides?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of teacher aides earn less than $27,150 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.