Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
Career Overview
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants – often known as education assistants or EAs – support students by providing help to teachers and counsellors. They help with teaching and with other tasks, such as personal care and behaviour.
Job Titles
Duties
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants:
- Work under the supervision of teachers or other child-care professionals
- Work with individual students and small groups
- Reinforce students’ learning using lessons and methods developed with the classroom teacher
- Help students with assignments
- Help build students’ social skills, emotional skills and self-esteem
- Offer encouragement to help students fit into the classroom and the school community
- Assist with children’s personal care
- Observe students and share their observations with the classroom teacher
- Assist students with special needs using sign language, braille and other supports
- Supervise students on field trips and during activities in school gyms, labs, libraries and resource centres
They may help teachers operate audio-visual and electronic equipment. They may also monitor students during recess and lunch hour. In addition, they may help in the school library or office or perform other duties assigned by the school principal.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
19,270% Employed Full Time
12%Teacher assistants work in public and private elementary, middle and high schools. They also work in special schools and treatment centres. They play an important role in both in-class and online learning.
They usually work school hours and may spend some of their time outdoors.
Teacher assistants often move from classroom to classroom throughout the day, taking on various tasks. They may help a student understand an assignment, deal with a physical need or manage anxiety. Whatever the challenge, they work as part of a team with the shared goal of helping children thrive.
Career Pathways
Teacher assistants may specialize in supporting children with severe behaviour, autism, hearing impairment or other special needs.
With experience, elementary and secondary school teacher assistants can move into other jobs related to child and adolescent care.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Teacher assistants need a high school diploma. Most jobs also require completion of a 10-month college program in teaching assistance, educational assistance or another social science.
Teacher assistants who help students with special needs usually need specific training and experience.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Teacher Assistant/Aide
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
19,270Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 790 | 4.1% |
| Kootenay | 820 | 4.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 11,130 | 57.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 630 | 3.3% |
| Northeast | 435 | 2.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 2,295 | 11.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 3,170 | 16.5% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
7,880Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 70 | -1.5% |
| Kootenay | 270 | 0.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 5,050 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 160 | -0.1% |
| Northeast | 110 | -0.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 850 | 0.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,370 | 0.9% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Educational Services | 7,830 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 30 |
| Public Administration | 10 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 10 |
Insights from Industry
The employment rate for elementary and secondary school teacher assistants has increased in recent years. Also, extra funding introduced with the return to in-class learning after the COVID-19 pandemic created more jobs.
Teacher assistants often gain great satisfaction from making a positive difference in students’ lives.
Resources
-
B.C. Ministry of Education – School District Contacts Mapwww.bced.gov.bc.ca/schools/bcmap.htm
-
CUPE K-12bcschools.cupe.ca
-
Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC)www.ecebc.ca
-
Make a Future – Careers in BC Education – Education Assistantswww.makeafuture.ca/careers-in-bc-education
-
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)www.naeyc.org
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what it’s like to be a teacher’s assistant.
Watch the video below to see what it’s like to be a teacher’s assistant.
