Special Education Assistant Jobs in Iowa

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 19 Jobs

Special Education Paraprofessional

  • Adair, IA
  • 7 hours ago
  • Adair, IA
  • 7 hours ago

Classroom Special Education Paraprofessional - Adair-Casey Elementary is in need of a paraprofessional to meet the needs of special education students in the classroom....

High School Paraprofessional (Instructional)

  • Des Moines, IA
  • 15 hours ago
  • Des Moines, IA
  • 15 hours ago

Position Purpose - Under the direct supervision of a certified staff member, to assist certified professional staff with students in the classroom to meet instructional goals and objectives, and...

2025-2026 Paraprofessional

  • Huxley, IA
  • 1 day ago
  • Huxley, IA
  • 1 day ago

Primary Responsibilities: Support teachers in meeting the needs of students in the special education or general education classroom....

Paraprofessional - Abbie Grove Elementary (Full Time)

  • Ankeny, IA
  • 1 day ago
  • Ankeny, IA
  • 1 day ago

Assist with the implementation of behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and sensory strategies, as directed by special education staff....

Paraprofessional - Special Education

  • Cascade, IA
  • 2 days ago
  • Cascade, IA
  • 2 days ago

Job Summary: Special Education Paraprofessional needed to support students who require extra support academically or behaviorally at Cascade Elementary School....

Paraprofessional

  • Central City, IA
  • 2 days ago
  • Central City, IA
  • 2 days ago

Responsibiities would include, but not limited to, support of students with IEPs in the general education setting, special education classroom support, supervision of students....

AM Preschool Paraprofessional Special Education

  • North Liberty, IA
  • 7 days ago
  • North Liberty, IA
  • 7 days ago

AM Preschool Paraprofessional Special Education Iowa City Community School District Penn Elementary - North Liberty, Iowa This job is also posted in Iowa City Community School District, and TeachIowa...

Special Education Paraprofessional

  • Colo, IA
  • 7 days ago
  • Colo, IA
  • 7 days ago

Special Education Paraprofessional Position to begin at the start of the 2025-26 School Year for Colo, IA. Questions regarding this position should be referred to Brandon Kelley at ......

Paraprofessional - Rock Creek Elementary

  • Ankeny, IA
  • 9 days ago
  • Ankeny, IA
  • 9 days ago

Assist with the implementation of behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and sensory strategies, as directed by special education staff....

Elementary Paraprofessional

  • Panora, IA
  • 21 days ago
  • Panora, IA
  • 21 days ago

ELEMENTARY PARAPROFESSIONAL TeachIowa Panorama Comm School District - Panora, Iowa This job is also posted in TeachIowa, Iowa's Marketplace for education jobs Job Details Job ID:5307640...

Paraprofessional

  • Grinnell, IA
  • 24 days ago
  • Grinnell, IA
  • 24 days ago

Paraprofessional TeachIowa Grinnell-Newburg Comm School District - Grinnell, Iowa This job is also posted in TeachIowa, Iowa's Marketplace for education jobs Job Details Job ID:5302145 Application...

Special Education Associate/Paraprofessional - Marion High School

  • Marion, IA
  • 27 days ago
  • Marion, IA
  • 27 days ago

Special Education Associate/Paraprofessional - Marion High School 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 777 South 15th Street, Marion, IA 52302 Marion Independent School District Job Title: Special Education Associate...

Special Education Aide (6.25 hrs/day)

  • Muscatine, IA
  • 30+ days ago
  • Muscatine, IA
  • 30+ days ago

Special Education Aides are assigned to work 9-months/year while school is in session....

Paraprofessional - Ankeny High School (Full Time)

  • Ankeny, IA
  • 30+ days ago
  • Ankeny, IA
  • 30+ days ago

Assist with the implementation of behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and sensory strategies, as directed by special education staff....

25-26 Early Childhood Special Education Paraprofessional

  • Dubuque, IA
  • 30+ days ago
  • Dubuque, IA
  • 30+ days ago

25-26 Early Childhood Special Education Paraprofessional JobID: 664 Position Type: Paraprofessionals/Special Education Date Posted: 7/9/2025 Location: Districtwide   Additional Information:...

Demographic Data for Iowa

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


Local
National
3,191,035
82,356

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.
Teaching Assistant with Special Education & Phonics Course
Are you passionate about supporting children with diverse educational needs? The Teaching Assistant with Special Education & Phonics Course is designed for individuals looking to make a...
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,...
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...

Title Synonyms

Users interested in this job title also searched for the following job title


Salary for Special Education Assistant Jobs in Iowa

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 Iowa offer the following education background
Bachelor's Degree
43.0%
Master's Degree
33.1%
Associate's Degree
9.0%
High School or GED
5.5%
Vocational Degree or Certification
5.1%
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



Special Education Assistant Related Career Advice Articles

Teacher teaching remotely
How to Become a Remote Teacher

Learn how to become a remote teacher with information on the qualifications, requirements, and resources you need to start your career as a remote educator.

Read article »
Learn the 6 best nationwide teacher job search tips
6 Must-Read Tips for Your Out-of-State or Nationwide Teacher Job Search

Running a nationwide teacher job search doesn’t have to be hard. Learn the keys to job hunting out of state and how to find and apply for teaching jobs.

Read article »
elementary school teacher in front of classroom
What’s Making or Breaking Your Elementary School Teacher Salary?

Despite working longer-than-average hours (50+ per week), 70% of teachers feel their salaries are unfairly low. The cliché, of course, is that teachers choose their careers “for the kids, not the money,” but the reality is that they need financial security no matter how much they care about their students.

Read article »