Occupations · Educational Instruction and Library

Teaching Assistants, Special Education

Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher to provide academic, social, or life skills to students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 25-9043.00

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Provide assistance to students with special needs.
Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
Carry out therapeutic regimens, such as behavior modification and personal development programs, under the supervision of special education instructors, psychologists, or speech-language pathologists.
Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
Observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress.
Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, supervised role-playing methods, or by reading aloud.
Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening3.9

Speaking3.8

Monitoring3.6

Reading Comprehension3.6

Learning Strategies3.6

Critical Thinking3.4

Writing3.1

Active Learning3.0

Mathematics1.9

Science1.4

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●AppletreeAutomate the Schools ATSBlackboard softwareChildren's educational softwareClassDojoEmail softwareFlipgridGoogle ClassroomGoogle MeetHand held spell checkersHigh School Scheduling and Transcript HSSTKahoot!LoomPadletParentSquareQuizletSchoologyScreen magnification softwareScreen reader softwareSeesawSpecial Education Student Information System SESISStudent information systems SIS softwareTadpoles

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Telephone Conversations−2.0 below average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.6 below average

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks−1.5 below average

Physical Proximity+1.4 above average

Exposed to Disease or Infections+1.3 above average

Level of Competition−1.2 below average

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment−1.2 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2025-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree39%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)25%

Some College Courses18%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)14%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2025-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Social7.0

Conventional3.6

Artistic3.3

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Social Perceptiveness3.8

Service Orientation3.6

Instructing3.5

Coordination3.1

Persuasion3.1

Complex Problem Solving3.0

Negotiation2.9

Judgment and Decision Making2.9

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

English LanguagePsychologyEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServiceMathematicsPublic Safety and Security

Abilities it leans on

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech ClarityProblem SensitivitySpeech RecognitionWritten Comprehension

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

Co-TeacherParaeducatorTeacher's AideAssistant InstructorEducational AssistantParaprofessional (Para)TA (Teaching Assistant)TA (Teacher's Assistant)Classroom ParaprofessionalEducation Support ProfessionalSPED Aide (Special Education Aide)Special Programs Instructional AssistantSPED Associate (Special Education Associate)SPED Assistant (Special Education Assistant)

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2020

Comparing O*NET release 25.1 (2020-11-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 3 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 14

+Loom+Padlet+Microsoft Outlook+ParentSquare+Google Meet+Schoology+Google Classroom+Appletree+ClassDojo+Flipgrid+Kahoot!+Tadpoles+Quizlet+Seesaw

No longer listed 2

−Word processing software−Data entry software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

Co-TeacherParaeducatorTeacher's AideParaprofessionalVisual Aid ExpertAssistant InstructorEducational AssistantSpecial Education AideParaprofessional (Para)TA (Teaching Assistant)TA (Teacher's Assistant)Classroom Paraprofessional

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
special educational needs assistant	5312.4	exact

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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