Instructional Assistant Jobs in New York
Instructional assistant jobs in New York are among the most active in the country, concentrated in public K-12 school districts, special education programs, and early childhood centers, with openings from entry-level classroom aides through senior paraprofessional roles. The heaviest hiring is in New York City, Buffalo, and Yonkers, where large employers like New York City Public Schools, Buffalo City School District, and AHRC New York City consistently bring on instructional assistants. The most in-demand specialties are special education support, English language learner assistance, and applied behavior analysis paraprofessional work. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 229+ Instructional Assistant jobs
Job Type: Support Staff - Union
Bargaining Unit: Local 2110
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Hours Per Week: 35
Salary Range: $58,630 - $58,630
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
This position’s regularly scheduled shift is weekdays, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Flexibility may be required to accommodate the needs of the team during peak times throughout the academic year.
The Instructional Support Assistant will execute administrative and logistical management to Academic Directors, faculty, and students at the School of Professional Studies. Under the supervision of the Instructional Support Supervisor, the Instructional Support Assistant will execute requests for scheduling, classroom resources, on-site support and other administrative services. The Instructional Support Assistant will also perform other relevant duties and participate in related projects as needed.
Responsibilities
- Under the supervision of the Instructional Support Supervisor, the Instructional Support Assistant will work with specified SPS departments to handle ad hoc logistical requests; provide instructional support for block week classes, MS defenses, capstones, weekend course work, lectures, academically focused receptions, and residencies
- Arranges classroom space for courses and re-scheduling with professors, as well as notifying students, when needed; provide logistical support for exams, print and deliver exam papers to exam locations; collaborate with curriculum and instruction team to arrange for class reserves packets (course reserves, library reserves)
- Address faculty requests that are received through Zendesk; responsible for the analysis and reporting of Zendesk data; interface across departments and schools in Columbia University for space requests
- Execute Zendesk tickets. Purchase materials/licenses for Academic Directors/Faculty. Send communications to students through Canvas for course related issues; provide administrative support to course-related activities that require special tech or space needs, execute term-based modification of course information and content
- In collaboration with Academic Director, faculty, Alumni and Events Management, provide admin support for scheduling Academic events, (weekly, monthly etc.) speaker series, and student workshops; work with Academic Director/Director of Administration to organize speakers/faculty for events; reserve space, coordinate tech set up and any materials for a variety of events including (employer information sessions); order food for academic events; work with Academic Director’s or event stakeholder to provide on-site support for Academic events
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned or requested
Minimum Qualifications
- High School Diploma or equivalent; Some college preferred
- 3 years related experience
- A resume and cover letter with salary requirements must be submitted for this position
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with faculty and staff in higher education
- Experience with room scheduling software, student information systems, and learning management systems
- Knowledge of hybrid, online learning modalities
- Experience with database management, helpdesk and/or project management software
- Knowledge of Zendesk or other CRM tools
- Ability to read, comprehend, analyze and interpret concepts, documents, and data
Other Requirements
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills required
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
- Demonstrated ability to provide excellent service to all stakeholders
- Some evening and weekend work required
- Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) and the Google Suite (Google Doc, Google Sheets, Google Slides, etc.)
- Candidates must understand the basic operation of web browsers, including how to navigate to websites, perform searches, and download files
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
Job Type: Support Staff - Union
Bargaining Unit: Local 2110
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Hours Per Week: 35
Salary Range: $58,630 - $58,630
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
This position’s regularly scheduled shift is weekdays, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Flexibility may be required to accommodate the needs of the team during peak times throughout the academic year.
The Instructional Support Assistant will execute administrative and logistical management to Academic Directors, faculty, and students at the School of Professional Studies. Under the supervision of the Instructional Support Supervisor, the Instructional Support Assistant will execute requests for scheduling, classroom resources, on-site support and other administrative services. The Instructional Support Assistant will also perform other relevant duties and participate in related projects as needed.
Responsibilities
- Under the supervision of the Instructional Support Supervisor, the Instructional Support Assistant will work with specified SPS departments to handle ad hoc logistical requests; provide instructional support for block week classes, MS defenses, capstones, weekend course work, lectures, academically focused receptions, and residencies
- Arranges classroom space for courses and re-scheduling with professors, as well as notifying students, when needed; provide logistical support for exams, print and deliver exam papers to exam locations; collaborate with curriculum and instruction team to arrange for class reserves packets (course reserves, library reserves)
- Address faculty requests that are received through Zendesk; responsible for the analysis and reporting of Zendesk data; interface across departments and schools in Columbia University for space requests
- Execute Zendesk tickets. Purchase materials/licenses for Academic Directors/Faculty. Send communications to students through Canvas for course related issues; provide administrative support to course-related activities that require special tech or space needs, execute term-based modification of course information and content
- In collaboration with Academic Director, faculty, Alumni and Events Management, provide admin support for scheduling Academic events, (weekly, monthly etc.) speaker series, and student workshops; work with Academic Director/Director of Administration to organize speakers/faculty for events; reserve space, coordinate tech set up and any materials for a variety of events including (employer information sessions); order food for academic events; work with Academic Director’s or event stakeholder to provide on-site support for Academic events
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned or requested
Minimum Qualifications
- High School Diploma or equivalent; Some college preferred
- 3 years related experience
- A resume and cover letter with salary requirements must be submitted for this position
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with faculty and staff in higher education
- Experience with room scheduling software, student information systems, and learning management systems
- Knowledge of hybrid, online learning modalities
- Experience with database management, helpdesk and/or project management software
- Knowledge of Zendesk or other CRM tools
- Ability to read, comprehend, analyze and interpret concepts, documents, and data
Other Requirements
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills required
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
- Demonstrated ability to provide excellent service to all stakeholders
- Some evening and weekend work required
- Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) and the Google Suite (Google Doc, Google Sheets, Google Slides, etc.)
- Candidates must understand the basic operation of web browsers, including how to navigate to websites, perform searches, and download files
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
See All 229+ Instructional Assistant Jobs in New York
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Find Instructional Assistant JobsInstructional Assistant Jobs by City in New York
Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Instructional Assistant Job Market in New York
A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Long Island University36
- The City University of New York23
- Touro University19
- University at Buffalo19
- Hofstra University15
Top Industries Hiring
- Education194
- Healthcare & Medical Services20
- Non-Profit & Social Services12
- Consulting & Professional Services3
- Technology & Software3
What New York Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in instructional assistant jobs across New York.
- New York State Education Department fingerprint clearance and background check required
- Associate degree or at least 48 college credit hours preferred by most districts
- Experience working with students with disabilities or special education needs
- Familiarity with Individualized Education Program documentation and compliance procedures
- Strong classroom management and behavior support skills for diverse student populations
- Ability to collaborate with licensed teachers and related service providers daily
Instructional Assistant Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an instructional assistant in New York?
New York State does not issue a standalone instructional assistant license, but the New York State Education Department requires paraprofessionals in Title I schools to meet a qualified paraprofessional standard, which means holding an associate degree, completing two years of college, or passing a state-approved assessment such as the ParaPro. Most districts also require a fingerprint background clearance through NYSED before you can work in any classroom role.
Which companies hire instructional assistants in New York?
Employers hiring instructional assistants in New York right now include Long Island University, The City University of New York, and Touro University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. New York's large public school systems and nonprofit special education providers generate the most consistent volume of instructional assistant openings across the state.
Which New York cities have the most instructional assistant jobs?
New York, Brooklyn, and Buffalo have the most instructional assistant openings in New York. New York City dominates the distribution because its public school system is the largest in the country, while Buffalo and Yonkers draw demand from their own large urban districts and the concentration of special education and early intervention programs serving those communities.
Are there remote instructional assistant jobs in New York?
Yes, but they're rare. The role is inherently hands-on and tied to in-person classroom support, so most positions require daily on-site presence. About 2% of instructional assistant openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those tend to be in virtual school programs or tutoring support roles rather than traditional paraprofessional positions.
How can I get hired as an instructional assistant in New York with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to a New York City, Buffalo, or Yonkers district as a substitute paraprofessional, which typically requires only a high school diploma and fingerprint clearance to start. From there, candidates move into permanent aide roles. AHRC New York City and HeartShare Human Services run associate-level onboarding programs for new staff without prior classroom experience. Completing the ParaPro assessment or enrolling in an early childhood education program at a CUNY community college strengthens your application significantly.
Where can I find and apply to instructional assistant jobs in New York?
You can find and apply to instructional assistant jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring across the state right now. Search the listings, find roles that fit your experience and location, and apply directly.
See All 229+ Instructional Assistant Jobs in New York
Find roles in New York that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Instructional Assistant Jobs