The North Far North region is home to diverse student populations reflecting a wide range of racial and ethnic heritages, socio-economic backgrounds, and physical and intellectual abilities—all of whom need dedicated teachers, mentors, and advocates to help them learn, grow, and reach their full potential. A career in education and human development is a way to make a difference in the life of a child, a family, or an entire community.
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Top jobs that Require Community College Credentials
How much will I make per hour?
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Job openings per year:
1,349How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $16.96/hr.
- Median: $18.32/hr.
- Experienced: $21.60/hr.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Job openings per year:
940How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $28.53/hr.
- Median: $37.20/hr.
- Experienced: $47.08/hr.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Job openings per year:
565How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $31.25/hr.
- Median: $38.96/hr.
- Experienced: $48.58/hr.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Job openings per year:
561How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $19.38/hr.
- Median: $23.23/hr.
- Experienced: $24.28/hr.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Job openings per year:
558How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $16.70/hr.
- Median: $18.32/hr.
- Experienced: $23.63/hr.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Job openings per year:
417How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $23.19/hr.
- Median: $31.05/hr.
- Experienced: $39.17/hr.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Job openings per year:
255How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $36.34/hr.
- Median: $46.75/hr.
- Experienced: $50.47/hr.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
Job openings per year:
82How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $25/hr.
- Median: $30.85/hr.
- Experienced: $42.01/hr.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Job openings per year:
81How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $29.51/hr.
- Median: $46.14/hr.
- Experienced: $50.55/hr.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Job openings per year:
76How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $38.29/hr.
- Median: $48.02/hr.
- Experienced: $51.87/hr.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
Job openings per year:
56How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $40.13/hr.
- Median: $45.12/hr.
- Experienced: $47.99/hr.
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
Job openings per year:
53How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $21.78/hr.
- Median: $27.22/hr.
- Experienced: $29.88/hr.
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
Job openings per year:
29How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $23.12/hr.
- Median: $31.05/hr.
- Experienced: $44.19/hr.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Job openings per year:
14How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $21.24/hr.
- Median: $26.18/hr.
- Experienced: $39.14/hr.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
Job openings per year:
7How much will I make?
- Entry-level: $35.38/hr.
- Median: $46.18/hr.
- Experienced: $50.98/hr.
Top Employers & Skills
Employers
- KinderCare Education
- Yuba City Unified School District
- Sacramento City Unified School District
- Swing Education
- Nobel Learning Communities
- Twin Rivers Unified School District
- Catalyst Family
- Cadence Education
- San Juan Unified School District
- Merryhill Schools
- Natomas Unified School District
- Folsom Cordova Unified School District
- Learning Care Group
- Child Development Centers
- La Petite Academy
- Elk Grove Unified School District
- Los Rios Community College District
- Childtime Learning Centers
- Opya
- California State University
Specialized skills
- Preschool Education
- Child Development
- Lesson Planning
- Early Childhood Education
- Working With Children
- Special Education, including IEP plans and working with students with disabilities
- Classroom Management
- Curriculum Development
- Physical Education
- Learning Styles
Technology & software skills
- Microsoft Office (Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word)
- Google Workspace
- Student Information Systems
- Learning Management Systems
- Productivity Software
- Zoom (Video Conferencing Tool)
- Canva (Software)
- Adobe Photoshop
- Google Classroom
- Virtual Learning Environments
Employability skills
- Communications
- Planning
- Leadership
- Mathematics
- Research
- Organizational Skills
- Lifting Ability
- Management
- Patience
- Multitasking
Source: Lightcast 2023.3; QCEW, non-QCEW, Self-Employed. Compiled by the North/Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.
Sample of reported job titles:
Educational Assistant, Instructional Assistant, Paraeducator, Paraprofessional, Teacher Aide, Teacher Assistant
Detailed Work Activities:
-
Maintain student records.
-
Develop instructional materials.
-
Distribute instructional or library materials.
-
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
-
Monitor student performance.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Sample of reported job titles:
Art Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Educator, Elementary Education Teacher, Elementary School Teacher, Elementary Teacher, Teacher
Tasks:
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs and interests.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students’ behavioral and academic problems.
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
- Apply multiple teaching methods.
- Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
- Discuss problems or issues with supervisors.
- Discuss student progress with parents or guardians.
Work Context:
- Contact With Others – 85% responded “Constant contact with others”
- Face-to-Face Discussions – 86% responded “Every day”
- Electronic Mail – 87% responded “Every day”
- Work With Work Group or Team – 65% responded “Extremely important”
- Duration of Typical Work Week – 79% responded “More than 40 hours”
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Sample of reported job titles:
Art Teacher, English Teacher, High School Science Teacher, History Teacher, Mathematics Instructor (Math Instructor), Science Teacher, Secondary Teacher, Social Studies Teacher, Spanish Teacher, Teacher
Tasks:
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs and interests.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Apply multiple teaching methods.
- Set up classroom materials or equipment.
- Develop instructional objectives.
- Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
- Maintain student records.
Work Context:
- Electronic Mail – 87% responded “Every day”
- Contact With Others – 79% responded “Constant contact with others”
- Face-to-Face Discussions – 81% responded “Every day”
- Public Speaking – 77% responded “Every day”
- Structured versus Unstructured Work – 50% responded “A lot of freedom”
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher’s lesson plan.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Teach classes in area of specialization.
- Distribute instructional or library materials.
- Supervise school or student activities.
- Advise students on academic or career matters.
- Assist patrons with entering or exiting vehicles or other forms of transportation.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
Sample of reported job titles:
Child Development Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, Group Teacher, Infant Teacher, Montessori Preschool Teacher, Nursery Teacher, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (Pre-K Teacher), Teacher, Toddler Teacher
Tasks:
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs and interests.
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
- Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Teach life skills.
- Provide for basic needs of children.
- Set up classroom materials or equipment.
- Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
- Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
Work Context:
- Contact With Others – 89% responded “Constant contact with others”
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled – 83% responded “Every day”
- Work With Work Group or Team – 60% responded “Extremely important”
- Face-to-Face Discussions – 72% responded “Every day”
- Physical Proximity – 46% responded “Very close (near touching)”
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
Sample of reported job titles:
Adoption Social Worker, Case Manager, Case Worker, Child Protective Services Social Worker (CPS Social Worker), Family Protection Specialist, Family Resource Coordinator, Family Service Worker, Foster Care Social Worker, School Social Worker, Youth Services Specialist
Tasks:
- Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
- Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.
- Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
- Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Maintain client records.
- Write reports or evaluations.
- Interview clients to gather information about their backgrounds, needs, or progress.
- Advocate for individual or community needs.
- Arrange physical or mental health services for clients.
Work Context:
- Electronic Mail – 100% responded “Every day”
- Contact With Others – 95% responded “Constant contact with others”
- Face-to-Face Discussions – 95% responded “Every day”
- Telephone – 95% responded “Every day”
- Work With Work Group or Team – 77% responded “Extremely important”
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
Sample of reported job titles:
English Teacher, Language Arts Teacher, Mathematics Teacher (Math Teacher), Middle School Teacher, Music Teacher, Physical Education Teacher (PE Teacher), Reading Teacher, Science Teacher, Social Studies Teacher, Teacher
Tasks:
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs and interests.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate these objectives to students.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Encourage students.
- Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
- Develop instructional objectives.
- Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
- Evaluate student work.
Work Context:
- Electronic Mail – 99% responded “Every day”
- Contact With Others – 89% responded “Constant contact with others”
- Face-to-Face Discussions – 90% responded “Every day”
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled – 88% responded “Every day”
- Duration of Typical Work Week – 81% responded “More than 40 hours”
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
Teach academic, social, and life skills to elementary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Sample of reported job titles:
Emotional Disabilities Teacher, Hearing Impaired Itinerant Teacher (HI Itinerant Teacher), Learning Support Teacher, Resource Program Teacher, Severe Emotional Disorders Elementary Teacher (SED Elementary Teacher), Special Education Inclusion Teacher, Special Education Resource Teacher, Special Education Teacher
Detailed Work Activities:
-
Collaborate with other teaching professionals to develop educational programs.
-
Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
-
Teach life skills.
-
Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
-
Develop instructional objectives.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.
Sample of reported job titles:
Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Educator, Instructor, Kinder Teacher, Kindergarten Classroom Teacher, Teacher, Title One Kindergarten Teacher, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Tasks:
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students’ varying needs and interests.
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
- Demonstrate activities to children.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
- Encourage students.
- Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
- Teach life skills.
- Apply multiple teaching methods.
Work Context:
- Electronic Mail – 93% responded “Every day”
- Contact With Others – 83% responded “Constant contact with others”
- Face-to-Face Discussions – 72% responded “Every day”
- Work With Work Group or Team – 76% responded “Extremely important”
- Physical Proximity – 66% responded “Very close (near touching)”
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Sample of reported job titles:
Career and Transition Teacher, High School Special Education Teacher, Interrelated Special Education Teacher, Learning Disabilities Special Education Teacher (LD Special Education Teacher), Learning Support Teacher, Resource Teacher, Special Day Class Teacher (SDC Teacher), Special Education Resource Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Teacher
Tasks:
- Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
- Observe and evaluate students’ performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
- Evaluate student work.
- Monitor student performance.
- Monitor student behavior, social development, or health.
- Teach life skills.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Sample of reported job titles:
Agricultural Education Teacher, Allied Health Teacher, Business Education Teacher, Cosmetology Teacher, Drafting Instructor, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher (FACS Teacher), Instructor, Teacher, Technology Education Teacher, Vocational Teacher
Tasks:
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Observe and evaluate students’ performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Apply multiple teaching methods.
- Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
- Evaluate student work.
- Develop instructional objectives.
- Monitor student performance.
Work Context:
- Electronic Mail – 93% responded “Every day”
- Face-to-Face Discussions – 92% responded “Every day”
- Public Speaking – 86% responded “Every day”
- Contact With Others – 75% responded “Constant contact with others”
- Coordinate or Lead Others – 54% responded “Extremely important”
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
Sample of reported job titles:
Childcare Director, Early Head Start Director, Education Coordinator, Education Director, Education Site Manager, Preschool Director, Preschool Program Director, Principal, Site Coordinator
Tasks:
- Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies and students’ behavioral or learning problems.
- Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies and students’ behavioral or learning problems.
- Monitor students’ progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
- Monitor students’ progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
- Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
- Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
- Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.
- Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.
- Set educational standards and goals and help establish policies, procedures, and programs to carry them out.
- Set educational standards and goals and help establish policies, procedures, and programs to carry them out.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Advise others on career or personal development.
- Monitor performance of organizational members or partners.
- Conduct employee training programs.
- Evaluate employee performance.
- Recruit personnel.
Work Context:
- Contact With Others – 98% responded “Constant contact with others”
- Telephone – 90% responded “Every day”
- Face-to-Face Discussions – 94% responded “Every day”
- Electronic Mail – 91% responded “Every day”
- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results – 65% responded “Very high responsibility”
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in basic education, literacy, or English as a Second Language classes, or in classes for earning a high school equivalency credential.
Sample of reported job titles:
Adult Basic Education Instructor (ABE Instructor), Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher), Adult Education Instructor, Adult Education Teacher, ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor), ESL Teacher (English as a Second Language Teacher), ESOL Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages Teacher), GED Instructor (General Educational Development Instructor), GED Teacher (General Educational Development Teacher), Teacher
Tasks:
- Observe and evaluate students’ work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.
- Observe students to determine qualifications, limitations, abilities, interests, and other individual characteristics.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs, abilities, and interests.
- Prepare students for further education by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Evaluate student work.
- Monitor student performance.
- Assess educational needs of students.
- Develop instructional objectives.
- Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
Work Context:
- Electronic Mail – 73% responded “Every day”
- Face-to-Face Discussions – 65% responded “Every day”
- Structured versus Unstructured Work – 46% responded “A lot of freedom”
- Coordinate or Lead Others – 50% responded “Extremely important”
- Contact With Others – 59% responded “Constant contact with others”
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Sample of reported job titles:
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (ECSE Teacher), Early Intervention Teacher, Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher), Handicapped Teacher, Preschool Special Education Teacher, Resource Teacher, Severe/Profound Mental Handicaps Special Education Teacher, Special Education Resource Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Teacher
Tasks:
- Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
- Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students’ educational, physical, or social development.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
- Teach life skills.
- Collaborate with other teaching professionals to develop educational programs.
- Encourage students.
- Monitor student performance.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
Sample of reported job titles:
Business Education Teacher, Business Teacher, Career and Technology Education Teacher (CTE Teacher), Computer Teacher, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher (FACS Teacher), Industrial Arts Teacher, Industrial Technology Teacher, Teacher, Technology Education Teacher (Tech Ed Teacher), Technology Teacher
Tasks:
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs and interests.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
Detailed Work Activities:
- Apply multiple teaching methods.
- Set up classroom materials or equipment.
- Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
- Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
- Develop instructional objectives.
The North region encompasses seven counties (El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba).
The Far North region encompasses 15 counties (Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity).
Specialized skills are specific to the occupation, or group of occupations, and represent job-specific competencies.
Technical skills refer to the specific software and technology regularly encountered on the job.
Employability skills (sometimes referred to as “common skills”) are foundational skills that cross occupations and industries. Many common skills, like, communication and team work, are also considered soft skills.