* Location: Salaries differ greatly between states and even within states depending on cost of living and funding levels for schools. Urban areas often pay more than rural areas.
* Education Level: While a degree isn't always required, having a bachelor's degree *can* lead to higher pay than having only an associate's degree or a certificate. The specific degree also matters; a degree in education might command a higher salary than a degree in a completely unrelated field.
* Experience: More experienced paraprofessionals generally earn more.
* Specific Job Duties: Some paraprofessional roles have more responsibilities and require more specialized skills, which can influence salary. For example, a paraprofessional working with special needs students might earn more than one assisting in a general education classroom.
* Employer: Public schools typically have different salary scales than private schools or other organizations employing paraprofessionals.
To find salary information for your specific area, I recommend searching online resources like:
* Salary.com: This website allows you to search for salaries based on location, job title, and education level.
* Glassdoor: Similar to Salary.com, Glassdoor provides salary information based on user-submitted data.
* Indeed: While not solely focused on salary, Indeed job postings often list salary ranges.
* Your State Department of Education's Website: These websites frequently contain salary information for public school employees.
In short, while a degree might increase earning potential, you need to specify location and other factors to get a reasonable salary estimate for paraprofessionals.