Teacher Aides ranks in the top fifty occupations with the largest expected job growth in California. Although Teacher Aides work in both elementary and secondary schools, most of them work in the early grades. Job opportunities depend on several things, such as population growth, government funding available for hiring teachers, aides, and other staff, and the supply of qualified job applicants in the local area. There are more than enough qualified applicants in most areas, but sometimes there are shortages of aides who have experience in special education or who can speak foreign languages. In California, the fast growing number of students who speak English as a second language should increase the need for aides who have bilingual skills.
Some school districts pay aides in special education programs slightly higher wages.
Teacher Aides in these programs experience a high turnover rate because they find that work with mentally and physically disabled students may be too difficult or challenging for them. School districts in Los Angeles and San Francisco tend to pay the highest wages. Aides usually work part-time from three to six hours a day. There are not many eight hour jobs. Some aides are covered by union contracts and have health benefits, but many part-time aides do not receive pensions, health insurance, or other benefits.