School jobs that don't need a teaching credential
Updated 2026-09-29
Most jobs at a California school aren't teaching jobs. Districts call the rest "classified" jobs, meaning school staff jobs that don't need a teaching credential. They often follow the school calendar, which is a big reason parents want them.
The most common school staff jobs
| Job | What you do | What they usually ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Instructional aide / paraeducator | Help a teacher and small groups of students, often in special education or TK | High school diploma, plus (for many jobs) an associate's degree, 48 college units, or passing the district's aide test |
| Campus supervisor / yard duty | Keep students safe at recess, lunch and pick-up | High school diploma; experience with kids helps |
| Office / clerical | Front desk, attendance, records, registrar | Office experience; typing and computer skills; sometimes a typing test |
| Custodian / maintenance | Keep buildings clean, safe and working | Experience helps; some jobs need a driver's license or trade skills |
| Food service | Prepare and serve school meals | Food safety training; some districts ask for a food handler card |
| Bus driver | Drive students to and from school | A special license and California school bus certificate; many districts pay for training |
| Health aide | Help the school nurse with first aid and medications | CPR and first aid certification |
| After-school leader | Run activities in after-school programs | Experience with kids; some jobs need college units |
Pay depends on the district. We keep the posted hourly rates by district for paraeducators, campus supervisors, office staff, custodians, cafeteria workers and bus drivers, updated every day from the postings.
Almost every school job also asks for a TB test and fingerprinting (Live Scan) before you start.
Reading the posting
"Classified" means a staff job that doesn't need a teaching credential. "Certificated" means it does.
Pay is often a range, like "Range 21, $24.24–$34.11 per hour." New hires usually start at the first step and move up each year.
Hours matter. A "3.5-hour" job is part-time, and whether a job comes with health benefits usually depends on its hours, so ask the district.
Substitute and on-call jobs are a good way in. You fill in when regular staff are out, and districts often hire from their sub list.
Where to find them
Most California districts post staff jobs on EDJOIN. You can browse school jobs by county to see what's open near you and what it typically pays, or set up a free alert so new staff jobs come to your inbox.