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Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary in the U.S.

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the U.S. earn a median of $36,780 a year, based on BLS data for 1,420,350 workers.

Median salary
$36,780
Average
$38,290
Top 10% earn
$50,040
Workers
1,420,350

Pay ranges from $27,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,040 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $38,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.

Pay range for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in the U.S.

$0$60,000
Pay levelYearly
10th percentile (entry level)$27,150
25th percentile$31,060
Median$36,780
75th percentile$45,360
90th percentile (top earners)$50,040
Average (mean)$38,290

Half of teaching assistants, except postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.

Median paycheck, before taxes

Pay periodAmount
Monthly$3,065
Semi-monthly (24 a year)$1,532.50
Biweekly (26 a year)$1,414.62
Weekly$707.31

BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because teaching assistants, except postsecondary are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary by state

StateMedian salaryWorkers
Washington$49,12043,420
District of Columbia$46,9203,950
Maine$46,7508,700
California$46,490177,140
Vermont$43,8004,960
Minnesota$40,10038,540
Oregon$39,85023,030
Massachusetts$39,38039,210
Virginia$38,52031,370
New Hampshire$38,4407,880
New York$38,240137,820
North Dakota$38,2405,600
Connecticut$38,11019,740
Delaware$37,8305,040
Wisconsin$37,80026,520
Virgin Islands$37,710400
New Jersey$37,29055,580
Rhode Island$37,2205,200
Alaska$37,1903,810
Maryland$37,06023,340
Utah$37,05018,170
Illinois$36,99064,210
Hawaii$36,8105,470
Missouri$36,30020,930
Wyoming$36,1003,680
Ohio$35,92047,300
Arizona$35,90025,280
New Mexico$35,9008,970
Colorado$35,76021,910
Idaho$35,5608,710
Nebraska$35,16011,190
Michigan$35,11039,030
Montana$34,7503,930
Pennsylvania$34,74048,310
Florida$34,43054,530
Indiana$33,30028,450
Nevada$31,9007,100
Iowa$30,51024,520
Kentucky$30,16016,330
Texas$29,850108,960
West Virginia$29,8005,110
North Carolina$29,79032,150
Kansas$29,49020,000
Tennessee$29,21023,280
Arkansas$28,79011,270
Georgia$28,77033,410
South Dakota$28,2204,650
Oklahoma$27,92013,860
South Carolina$27,86014,410
Louisiana$27,40014,530
Mississippi$25,8409,750
Alabama$24,07010,140
Puerto Rico$23,1809,910
Guam$21,250180

Best-paying metro areas for teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Metro areaMedian salaryWorkers
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$57,950870
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$53,95021,040
Bellingham, WA$51,6701,200
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$51,3501,700
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$50,5301,370
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$49,36018,710
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$49,0107,240
Portland-South Portland, ME$48,7703,170
Decatur, IL$48,480550
Napa, CA$48,450530
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$48,2701,930
Vallejo, CA$48,2001,630
Salinas, CA$48,0302,290
Modesto, CA$47,9903,470
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$47,8603,870

Metro areas with the most teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Metro areaWorkersMedian salary
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ126,920$38,890
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA53,010$46,240
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN46,770$37,840
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD26,990$36,080
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH26,350$40,930
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX25,270$31,480
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV25,050$46,200
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX23,930$29,300
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI23,370$45,310
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA22,500$46,330
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA21,040$53,950
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA18,710$49,360
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ17,320$36,450
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA17,230$29,500
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI14,660$35,450

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian salaryHourly
Instructional Coordinator$77,440$37.23
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$42,910—
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$50,890$24.47
Farm and Home Management Educators$60,220$28.95
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970—
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040—
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370—
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670$20.03
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140$18.34
Self-Enrichment Teacher$46,800$22.50
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120—
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$107,310—
Tutor$43,350$20.84
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260—

More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-9045. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in the U.S.?

The median salary for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in the U.S. is $36,780 a year. Pay ranges from $27,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,040 for the top 10%.

How much do the highest-paid teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in the U.S.?

The top 10% of teaching assistants, except postsecondary in the U.S. earn at least $50,040 a year. The top 25% earn $45,360 or more.

What is the starting pay for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in the U.S.?

Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,150 a year, and a quarter of teaching assistants, except postsecondary earn $31,060 or less.

How many teaching assistants, except postsecondary work in the U.S.?

About 1,420,350 teaching assistants, except postsecondary are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.