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ZE

Paraprofessional - Immediate Start at Zen Educate

Zen Educate No longer available

Job Description

Limited Positions - Now hiring for the school year.
We're hiring now! Zen Educate is looking for Para Educators. You'll grow your skills, gain meaningful experience, and work where your support matters every day. These roles support students with a range of special education needs, including mild, moderate, and severe needs.
Don't wait, connect with a recruiter today and see how we can help you find the perfect role.

The Special Education Paraprofessional is key to helping classroom teachers establish and maintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment. Your main focus will be to deliver specialized assistance to students with special needs. This work includes offering direct one-on-one or small group educational support, ensuring lesson comprehension, actively participating in carrying out IEP objectives, and providing assistance with behavior strategies and personal care as required.

Key Responsibilities:
- Assisting licensed staff in the classroom
- Aid students in meeting their individualized education plan (IEP)
- Maintain a classroom environment that is conducive to learning
- Work with individuals and/or small groups when activities and assignments are presented
- Provide support for students in crisis
- Utilize a variety of learning methods to enhance the student's learning experiences and support them as needed
- Behavior management and de-escalation support
- Celebrate the students you're working with
- Support students with elements of personal care (feeding, toileting, etc.)

Required Qualifications:
- Associates degree or 60 college credits
- 1+ years experience in childcare/education
- Applicants must have professional proficiency in English
- US Work Authorization - Zen Educate cannot provide sponsorship for an employment visa or relocation assistance at this time.

Physical Requirements:
- Comfortable being on your feet and moving around the classroom throughout the day
- Able to lift up to 20 lbs and safely assist students when needed (kneeling, bending, quick response)
- Additional physical requirements may be requested during your application process

Preferred Qualifications:
- Previous experience working in special education classroom
- Behavioral Technician or PCA experience
- Crisis prevention (CPI) training
- CPR certification

Salary
Pay: $18/hour, paid weekly.
Schedule: Monday to Friday, within hours of 7:30 am - 3:00/4:30 pm (no weekend work).

Benefits:
- Weekly Direct Deposit
- Potential to qualify for health coverage and 401(k) participation, subject to role and eligibility criteria.

Why Zen
When you work with Zen Educate, you're never on your own. Our team offers continuous support, from your first application to your first day in the classroom and beyond, to help you succeed and grow in your role.

About Zen
Zen Educate connects schools with passionate, qualified educators through a clear and efficient process. Our mission is to make hiring fairer and simpler for both teachers and schools.


Ref: KC-NHQ-TA-February2026-101

Typical mid-level pay: $36k for Teaching Assistants nationally

National salary averages
Expected mid-level
$36k
Entry
Mid
Senior
Expected
$24k Market range (10th-90th percentile) $50k

Hot hiring, constrained wages

Employers are hiring actively, but pay hasn't caught up with demand. Focus on competing offers and non-salary benefits.

Hiring leverage
Candidate-favored
Wage leverage âš  Disconnect
Constrained
Mobility
High mobility
Durability
High fragility

Why this market feels harder than it looks

This market is hiring aggressively, but compensation hasn't caught up and most openings are backfilling churn, not expansion. Employers are filling roles, but not bidding wages up.

Who this leverage applies to

Stronger for: Senior candidates with options
Weaker for: Entry-level candidates, Career switchers

Where to negotiate

Base salary
Sign-on bonus
Title / level
Remote flexibility
Scope & responsibility
Start date / PTO

Likely Possible Unlikely

Watch out for

Wage disconnect: Hiring is active but pay hasn't responded—negotiate on other terms.

Don't let hiring headlines mislead you—focus on concrete offers. Your leverage may be less durable than it appears—move decisively.

Does this path compound?

Job Growth →
High churn
Growth, flat pay
🚀 Compound
Growth + pay upside
⚠️ Plateau
Limited growth
Specialize
Experts earn more
Pay Upside →
Stable but flat

Steady work, but limited growth in both jobs and pay.

-1%
10yr growth
Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new positions.
195,000 openings projected annually—mostly replacing retirees and turnover.

Openings come from turnover, not new growth. Differentiate to advance.

Labor data: BLS 2024