NYC Public Schools Jobs: Open Positions, Salaries and How to Apply

Working in a New York City public school does not necessarily mean becoming a teacher.

NYC Public Schools jobs include teachers, paraprofessionals, School Aides, Family Workers, Parent Coordinators, school secretaries, food service employees, social workers, counselors, psychologists, administrative staff and many other positions.

That makes NYC Public Schools one of the most important employers to understand if you're looking for work in education or public service in New York City.

The system employs nearly 135,000 full-time workers and serves approximately 1.1 million students, according to NYC Public Schools.

In this guide, we'll explain the major types of NYC school jobs, current salary examples, qualifications, benefits and where to apply.

NYC Public Schools jobs at a glance

Salary examples reflect published schedules and NYC Public Schools information available in October 2026. Pay can vary based on title, education, experience, hours, longevity and contractual increases. Always check the individual vacancy or current salary schedule before applying.

Current NYC Public Schools job openings

NYC Public Schools maintains an official job opportunities page for many school-based positions.

As of October 2026, the system is actively publishing opportunities including:

• School Aide
• Family Worker
• Parent Coordinator
• Community Associate
• Other school-based positions
• Other opportunities for educators
• Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialist

Openings are available across:

• Bronx
• Brooklyn
• Manhattan
• Queens
• Staten Island
• Citywide programs

Visit the official NYC Public Schools Job Opportunities page .

You can also browse jobs in New York City on Empregara .

1. School Aide jobs in NYC

School Aide is one of the most frequently advertised NYC Public Schools job titles.

School Aides support the day-to-day operation of schools and may work in areas such as:

• Hallway or student supervision
• School offices
• Arrival and dismissal
• Lunchrooms
• Administrative support
• Attendance-related tasks
• Supporting school staff

Exact responsibilities can differ considerably from one school to another.

The official NYCPS job board regularly includes School Aide openings throughout all five boroughs.

Candidates should review each posting individually because schedules, minimum qualifications and pay can vary.

2. Family Worker jobs

Family Workers help connect schools, students and families.

The role may involve:

• Family outreach
• Helping parents access school resources
• Supporting student attendance initiatives
• Community engagement
• Administrative support
• Communicating with families

Family Worker positions are frequently listed separately on the NYC Public Schools job opportunities portal.

These jobs can be especially interesting for candidates with experience in community service, social services, customer service or working with families.

3. Parent Coordinator jobs

Parent Coordinators help strengthen communication between schools and families.

They are non-instructional school-based employees whose responsibilities often focus on family engagement and community outreach.

Typical responsibilities can include:

• Helping parents communicate with the school
• Organizing parent events and workshops
• Sharing school information with families
• Connecting parents with resources
• Supporting family participation in school activities

NYC Public Schools groups Parent Coordinator positions with other community-based school titles.

See current opportunities through the NYC Public Schools Parent Coordinators and Community Titles page .

4. Paraprofessional jobs

Paraprofessionals are teaching assistants who support students under the supervision of a certified teacher.

Many NYC Public Schools paraprofessionals work in:

• Special education
• Early childhood education
• Classroom instructional support
• Individual or small-group student support

For many candidates, the path begins as a Substitute Paraprofessional.

Substitute Paraprofessional requirements

NYCPS currently requires candidates to have:

• Authorization to work in the United States
• A high school diploma, GED or approved equivalent
• A nomination from a school principal to enter the formal application process
• Required English-language proficiency
• Successful completion of employment processing and background clearance

Candidates are also fingerprinted and photographed as part of pre-employment processing.

How much do NYC Substitute Paraprofessionals make?

Effective September 14, 2026, the contractual rate is:

How do you become a full-time paraprofessional?

NYC Public Schools says candidates must first become a substitute paraprofessional and serve at least 25 days in that role.

Candidates must also obtain the required New York State Teaching Assistant certification.

Beginning in 2025, new applicants use the Initial Teaching Assistant Certificate rather than the former Teaching Assistant Level I certificate.

Full-time appointments depend on school vacancies, budgets and personnel needs and are not guaranteed.

Learn more on the official NYCPS Paraprofessional page .

5. Teacher jobs in NYC Public Schools

Teaching is one of the largest professional career paths within NYC Public Schools.

The system operates more than 1,600 schools across New York City.

Full-time NYCPS teachers must generally hold the appropriate New York State teacher certification.

Certification is issued by the New York State Education Department rather than directly by NYC Public Schools.

NYC teacher starting salary in 2026

The UFT salary schedule effective September 14, 2026 shows:

Teacher salaries increase based on a combination of experience, salary steps, academic credits, advanced degrees and longevity.

Under the current salary schedule, experienced teachers with additional qualifications can earn substantially more than the starting salary.

Review the current UFT teacher salary schedule .

How to apply for NYC teaching jobs

Prospective teachers use a different hiring process from many School Aide or community-title applicants.

The typical process includes:

1. Confirm your New York State certification status.
2. Complete the NYC Public Schools teacher application.
3. Wait for your application to be reviewed for eligibility.
4. Enter the New Teacher Finder if accepted.
5. Search for vacancies matching your certification area and borough preferences.
6. Apply directly to schools.
7. Interview with principals or school hiring teams.
8. Complete employment processing after being selected.

Some schools may also ask candidates to conduct a demonstration lesson.

See the official TeachNYC application and hiring process .

6. Substitute Teacher jobs

Substitute Teachers cover classrooms when regular full-time teachers are absent.

The minimum eligibility requirements currently include:

• Bachelor's degree
• Principal nomination
• English-language proficiency
• Authorization to work in the United States

A candidate does not necessarily need to already hold a New York State teacher certificate to begin the substitute process, although uncertified candidates must complete additional state-required workshops and processing requirements.

NYC Substitute Teacher pay in 2026

Learn more from the official NYC Public Schools Substitute Teaching page .

7. School food service jobs

NYC Public Schools also employs thousands of workers who support school meal operations.

The Office of Food & Nutrition Services operates school kitchens throughout the city.

Entry-level and experienced positions include:

• School Lunch Helper
• Senior School Lunch Helper
• Cook
• Food Service Manager
• Other food and nutrition positions

School Lunch Helper

School Lunch Helpers may:

• Assist with food preparation
• Serve meals
• Restock food and supplies
• Clean kitchens and serving areas
• Follow sanitation procedures

NYCPS advertises these as entry-level school kitchen opportunities.

Cook

NYCPS currently lists a salary range of:

$34,737–$41,278

Requirements include elementary school education and at least one year of satisfactory paid experience relevant to the position, or an acceptable equivalent.

Food Service Manager

The current published new-hire rate is:

$58,999

Candidates can qualify through combinations of relevant education and professional food-service management experience.

Explore positions through the NYC Public Schools Food Services Jobs page .

8. School secretary jobs

School secretaries provide critical administrative support inside schools.

Responsibilities can include:

• Student and family communication
• School records
• Scheduling
• Office administration
• Supporting principals and staff
• Data and document management

School secretary appointments use a nomination-based hiring process that considers a candidate's education and experience.

Salary is determined under the applicable NYCPS/UFT salary schedule.

9. Social worker, school counselor and psychologist jobs

NYC Public Schools also employs licensed and certified professionals supporting student academic, emotional and behavioral needs.

These careers include:

• School Counselors
• School Social Workers
• School Psychologists
• Attendance Teachers

Candidates must hold or have completed the requirements for the appropriate New York State certification.

Qualified candidates can apply to enter the NYCPS candidate system, where eligible applicants may become searchable by schools.

See the official NYCPS Pupil Personnel Services career page .

10. Administrative and central-office jobs

Not every NYC Public Schools employee works inside a classroom or school building.

The organization also hires for administrative and central-office functions, including areas such as:

• Human resources
• Finance
• Technology
• Operations
• Procurement
• Program administration
• Data and analytics
• Policy
• Communications

Requirements and salaries vary significantly depending on the position.

Use the NYC Public Schools Careers portal to access the appropriate application system.

NYC school jobs that may not require a bachelor's degree

If you want to work in a school but do not have a four-year degree, teaching is not your only option.

Depending on the individual vacancy, possible career paths can include:

• School Aide
• Substitute Paraprofessional
• Family Worker
• School Lunch Helper
• Cook
• Community support titles

For example, Substitute Paraprofessionals can qualify with a high school diploma, GED or approved equivalent.

School food-service positions also provide paths for applicants without a bachelor's degree.

Always check the actual posting because requirements differ by title.

You may also want to read our guide to high-paying jobs that don't require a four-year college degree .

Do you need experience to work for NYC Public Schools?

Not always.

The amount of required experience depends heavily on the job.

Some positions provide a possible entry point for workers with limited professional experience, while specialized careers require certification, technical training or significant prior work.

Candidates early in their careers can also see: Jobs That Usually Don't Require Previous Work Experience .

Background checks and fingerprinting

Working in a public school involves additional employment screening because employees may work around children.

Depending on the position, candidates may need to complete:

• Employment forms
• I-9 employment authorization verification
• Fingerprinting
• Photographing
• Background review
• Certification verification when applicable

NYCPS currently processes fingerprints through approved IdentoGO locations.

Candidates generally receive the appropriate fingerprinting instructions after entering the employment process.

If you have already been fingerprinted through NYC Public Schools or have eligible fingerprints on file with New York State, you may not need to repeat the entire process, although exceptions can apply.

How to apply for NYC Public Schools jobs

One common mistake is assuming that every NYCPS position uses the same application.

It does not.

The correct application path depends on the job category.

For School Aide, Family Worker and Parent Coordinator positions

Start with the NYCPS Job Opportunities portal .

Search by:

• Job category
• Borough
• School
• Deadline

For teaching positions

Use TeachNYC and complete the teacher application appropriate to your certification status.

For Substitute Teacher positions

The process generally begins with a school principal nomination. NYCPS also periodically operates an interest survey for candidates who have not yet secured a nomination.

For paraprofessional positions

Candidates generally begin as a Substitute Paraprofessional and must receive a school nomination before entering the application process.

For food service jobs

Use the NYCPS Office of Food & Nutrition Services career page and its specific application or scheduling system.

Benefits of working for NYC Public Schools

Benefits depend on title, employment status and hours worked.

NYC Public Schools states that employees working more than 20 hours per week may be able to choose from multiple health insurance plans.

Full-time eligible employees may receive benefits including:

• Health insurance
• Dental benefits
• Vision benefits
• Prescription coverage
• Paid leave
• Retirement benefits
• Tax-deferred retirement savings options
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts
• Education and professional-development opportunities

Retirement system participation depends on the employee title.

Teachers generally participate in the Teachers' Retirement System, while other NYCPS workers may participate through BERS or NYCERS.

See the official NYCPS Benefits and Pay page .

How to make your application stronger

NYC school vacancies can attract many applicants.

Read the job posting carefully and tailor your resume to the actual responsibilities.

If the posting repeatedly mentions:

• Working with families
• Student support
• Customer service
• Microsoft Office
• Recordkeeping
• Communication
• Bilingual skills

and you genuinely have those abilities, make sure your resume demonstrates them.

See our guide to the best skills to put on a resume .

Use an ATS-friendly resume

Keep your resume easy to read and focused on relevant experience.

Avoid replacing useful information with graphics, rating bars or excessive design.

Review our ATS-friendly resume format guide before submitting applications.

What if you have little work experience?

For entry-level support positions, you can use experience from:

• Volunteer work
• Community organizations
• Childcare
• School activities
• Customer service
• Religious or nonprofit organizations
• Family responsibilities

Focus on transferable skills such as:

• Reliability
• Communication
• Organization
• Working with children
• Customer service
• Conflict resolution
• Teamwork

See: How to Write a Resume With No Work Experience .

Prepare for your NYC Public Schools interview

Interview questions depend on the role.

For school-based positions, be prepared to discuss:

• Why you want to work in a school
• Your experience working with children or families
• How you handle difficult situations
• How you communicate with coworkers
• Your reliability and attendance
• How you would handle confidential information

Teaching candidates may also be asked to complete a demonstration lesson.

Before interviewing, read: 25 Job Interview Tips to Help You Get Hired .

Teacher salary can be negotiable through salary placement — not traditional negotiation

NYCPS teacher salaries follow contractual schedules rather than a typical private-sector salary negotiation process.

However, prior teaching experience, academic credits and certain qualifying professional experience can influence where a teacher is placed on the salary schedule.

That makes documentation important.

For jobs outside fixed public-sector salary schedules, you may also want to review our salary negotiation guide .

Where are NYC Public Schools jobs located?

Jobs exist across all five New York City boroughs:

• Bronx
• Brooklyn
• Manhattan
• Queens
• Staten Island

Some positions are citywide or involve central administrative offices.

The official vacancy system allows job seekers to filter many school-based positions by borough.

Frequently asked questions about NYC Public Schools jobs

Do you need a college degree to work for NYC Public Schools?

No.

A bachelor's degree and New York State certification are generally required for full-time teaching positions, but many non-teaching jobs have different requirements.

Substitute Paraprofessionals, for example, can qualify with a high school diploma, GED or approved equivalent.

How much do NYC teachers make in 2026?

Under the salary schedule effective September 14, 2026, a new teacher with a bachelor's degree and no prior teaching experience starts at $71,314.

A new teacher with a master's degree and no prior teaching experience is listed at $80,166.

Pay rises with additional experience, education and longevity.

How much does an NYC Substitute Teacher make?

The contractual rate effective September 14, 2026 is $232.70 per day worked.

How much does an NYC Substitute Paraprofessional make?

The contractual rate effective September 14, 2026 is $194.62 per day worked.

Can I work as a School Aide without a bachelor's degree?

School Aide positions do not generally follow the same bachelor's-degree and teacher-certification requirements as classroom teachers.

Review the qualifications on each vacancy because requirements may vary.

Where can I find current NYC School Aide jobs?

NYC Public Schools publishes School Aide vacancies through its official Job Opportunities portal, where candidates can filter positions by borough and other criteria.

Do NYC Public Schools employees get health insurance?

Eligible employees can receive health and other benefits. NYCPS states that employees working more than 20 hours per week can select from qualifying health insurance plans, subject to applicable rules.

Do NYC school jobs require fingerprinting?

Many NYCPS employees must complete fingerprinting and background clearance before they can begin work.

Can I become a paraprofessional without being a substitute first?

For the normal NYCPS full-time paraprofessional pathway, candidates must first serve as a Substitute Paraprofessional and complete at least 25 days of service, along with required New York State certification.

How do I apply to become an NYC teacher?

Prospective teachers apply through TeachNYC. After eligibility review, accepted candidates can enter the New Teacher Finder, search vacancies and communicate with individual schools.

Are there school food service jobs in NYC?

Yes. NYC Public Schools hires School Lunch Helpers, cooks, food service managers and other employees through its Office of Food & Nutrition Services.

Is NYC Public Schools the same as NYC DOE?

NYC Public Schools is the name currently used by New York City's public school system. Many candidates and older resources still refer to the organization as the New York City Department of Education or NYC DOE.

For job-search purposes, phrases such as “NYC Public Schools jobs” and “NYC DOE jobs” often refer to employment within the same school system.

Official resources

• NYC Public Schools — Careers
• NYC Public Schools — Job Opportunities
• TeachNYC — Teacher Careers
• NYC Public Schools — Paraprofessionals
• NYC Public Schools — Substitute Teaching
• NYC Public Schools — Food Services Jobs
• United Federation of Teachers — NYCPS Salary Schedules

Last updated: October 2026. Job openings, salaries, eligibility rules and application procedures may change. Always review the official NYC Public Schools vacancy and current contractual salary schedule before applying. Empregara is not affiliated with NYC Public Schools, the New York City Department of Education or the United Federation of Teachers.