Special Education Assistant Jobs in Illinois

A Special Education Assistant plays a crucial role in elementary education by supporting students with special needs under the direction of a Special Education Teacher. They help to handle the everyday needs of these students such as helping them with their schoolwork, personal hygiene, mobility, feeding, and behavioral issues. They also monitor student progress and assist the teacher in devising and implementing personalized educational plans. Special Education Assistants also contribute to maintaining a safe and comfortable classroom environment that promotes learning.

This role demands certain certifications and skills. At a minimum, they must possess a high school diploma but a degree or certification in special education or a related field is preferred. CPR and First Aid certifications are a plus. They should have excellent communication skills to effectively interact with students, teachers, and parents. Patience and empathy are essential as they will be tasked with managing children with varying abilities and behavioral issues. Prior experiences as a Teacher's Assistant, Childcare Worker, or Behavior Therapist can provide valuable experience before becoming a Special Education Assistant.

1-15 of 183 Jobs

The special education assistant may assist individual students as well as groups of students in the classroom, as well as accompanying student(s) to recess and lunch as needed....

Paraprofessional Pre-Kindergarten Classroom

  • Springfield, IL
  • 1 day ago
  • Springfield, IL
  • 1 day ago

HOURS PER DAY: 7 (Includes 30 min unpaid lunch) DAYS PER YEAR: 191 ( Which Includes 1 Day of CPI Training) REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS: Any person who is 18 years of age for Pre-K through 5 th...

Paraprofessional - Jefferson School

  • Sterling, IL
  • 1 day ago
  • Sterling, IL
  • 1 day ago

Position Type: Support Staff/ Teacher Assistant Date Posted: 6/30/2025 Location: Jefferson Elementary School District:   Dixon Cmty Unit Sch Dist 170    June 30, 2025 POSTING Dixon...

Paraprofessional

  • Gilman, IL
  • 2 days ago
  • Gilman, IL
  • 2 days ago

Paraprofessional Iroquois West Unit 10 Iroquois West High School - Gilman, Illinois This job is also posted in Iroquois West CUSD 10 Job Details Job ID:5257735 Application Deadline:Posted until...

Bright Futures Paraprofessional (Full-Time)

  • Peoria, IL
  • 2 days ago
  • Peoria, IL
  • 2 days ago

Qualifications MUST have a valid Illinois Paraprofessional (PARA) or Professional Educator License (PEL) Salary/Benefits Pay starts at $18 per hour with a possibility for more based on experience...

Charter School - Paraprofessional

  • Chicago, IL
  • 3 days ago
  • Chicago, IL
  • 3 days ago

Join Our Mission to Transform Lives! 'Empowering Students, Enriching Futures!' Are you a dedicated Paraprofessional ready to make a significant impact? The Stepping Stones Group is excited to...

Qualifications High school diploma required; associate's degree or coursework in early childhood education preferred. Experience working with preschool-aged children strongly preferred....

Paraprofessional

  • Silvis, IL
  • 4 days ago
  • Silvis, IL
  • 4 days ago

Duties This staff member will work with individual and small groups of students, as well as supervise students several times during the school day. Qualifications A paraprofessional license is the...

Position Type: Teacher Assistant/ Special Education Teacher Assistant and Community Date Posted: 6/26/2025 Location: Multiple Locations (no travel) Date Available: 08/2025 Closing Date: Until Filled...

Position Type: Teacher Assistant/ Special Education Teacher Assistant and Community Date Posted: 6/26/2025 Location: Multiple Locations (no travel) Date Available: 08/2025 Closing Date: Until Filled...

Special Education Paraprofessional

  • Lake Zurich, IL
  • 6 days ago
  • Lake Zurich, IL
  • 6 days ago

Position Type: Special Education/Special Education Assistant Date Posted: 6/23/2025 Location: May Whitney Elementary School Date Available: 2025/2026 School Term   Additional Information: Show...

Float Paraprofessional - 3 Positions

  • Lake Zurich, IL
  • 6 days ago
  • Lake Zurich, IL
  • 6 days ago

Position Type: Special Education/Special Education Assistant Date Posted: 6/24/2025 Location: Elementary Date Available: 2025/2026 School Term   Additional Information: Show/Hide Must hold a...

Regular Ed Paraprofessional assigned to Kindergarten- Title I

  • Plainfield, IL
  • 8 days ago
  • Plainfield, IL
  • 8 days ago

development Ability to multi-task Excellent communications skills Please refer to the attached job description Qualifications: One of the following State of Illinois Licenses registered in Will County...

CNA/Paraprofessional

  • Morton, IL
  • 8 days ago
  • Morton, IL
  • 8 days ago

Duties This person will assist an individual special education student with academic needs as well as to serve their medical needs such as toileting, colostomy bags, etc. throughout the school day....

Academic Support Paraprofessional School-Based Role Wheaton, IL

  • Wheaton, IL
  • 9 days ago
  • Wheaton, IL
  • 9 days ago

A reputable school district in Wheaton, Illinois is hiring a full-time Paraprofessional to join its student support team. In this role, youll work directly with students and classroom staff to...

Demographic Data for Illinois

Moving to Illinois? Find some basic demographic data about Illinois below.


Local
National
12,812,477
319,486

Special Education Assistant Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireElementaryTeachers curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
MathTrackX: Special Functions
Understand trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions and how they can be applied in the real world. This course is part two of the MathTrackX XSeries Program which has been designed to...
Special Education
This course is part of a D2L/Educator and Leadership Institute (ELI) suite of online learning programmes. The programmes aim to boost knowledge in 4 areas: Special Education, School Leadership,...
Online Education
The Professional Certificate in Online Education is a comprehensive experience that provides the knowledge, skills and resources needed to plan and teach quality online courses. The Professional...

Title Synonyms

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Salary for Special Education Assistant Jobs in Illinois

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireElementaryTeachers research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Special Education Assistant positions.



Highest Education Level

Special Education Assistants in Illinois offer the following education background
Bachelor's Degree
43.1%
Master's Degree
33.0%
Associate's Degree
8.8%
High School or GED
5.5%
Vocational Degree or Certification
5.2%
Doctorate Degree
2.7%
Some College
1.4%
Some High School
0.3%


Other Career Titles

Here are some other career titles that require similar skills



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