2023 Average Paraprofessional Salaries: What Are the Top-Paying States?

See how your state stacks up.

Special education paraprofessional sitting at desk with student and helping him with schoolwork with text that says According to ZipRecruiter, special ed paraprofessionals have the highest salary.

Paraprofessionals are known as the ā€œbackbone of the school.ā€ 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. Itā€™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. Thatā€™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

skyline of new jersey city

David/New Jersey via Pixabay

Salary: $35,627
Hourly rate: $17.13

2. Wisconsin

Salary: $35,360
Hourly rate: $17.00

3. Wyoming

Salary: $35,220
Hourly rate: $16.93

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4. Nevada

Salary: $34,853
Hourly rate: $16.76

5. Massachusetts

Salary: $34,754
Hourly rate: $16.71

6. Indiana

Salary: $34,718
Hourly rate: $16.69

7. Arizona

Salary: $34,704
Hourly rate: $16.69

8. Oregon

Salary: $34,136
Hourly rate: $16.41

9. Georgia

Salary: $34,117
Hourly rate: $16.40

10. Minnesota

Salary: $34,040
Hourly rate: $16.37

11. Washington

Salary: $33,734
Hourly rate: $16.00

12. Washington, D.C.

Salary: $33,734
Hourly rate: $16.00

13. New York

city scene in new york city

Noel/New York via Pixabay

Salary: $33,703
Hourly rate: $16.20

14. Hawaii

Salary: $33,669
Hourly rate: $16.19

15. Montana

montana river

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: Ā $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 onĀ our We Are Teachers HELPLINE groupĀ on Facebook.

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Schools can't function without paraprofessionals. Here's how paraprofessional salaries and hourly rates rank by state.