Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary in California
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in California earn a median of $46,490 a year, based on BLS data for 177,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,520 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $36,780. California ranks 4th of 51 states for teaching assistants, except postsecondary pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 9.7 teaching assistants, except postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $47,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,240 |
| 25th percentile | $39,590 |
| Median | $46,490 |
| 75th percentile | $49,550 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,520 |
| Average (mean) | $47,300 |
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 period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,874.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,937.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,788.08 |
| Weekly | $894.04 |
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 in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,360 | 18,710 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,010 | 7,240 |
| Napa, CA | $48,450 | 530 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $48,270 | 1,930 |
| Vallejo, CA | $48,200 | 1,630 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,030 | 2,290 |
| Modesto, CA | $47,990 | 3,470 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $47,860 | 3,870 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,430 | 1,060 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $46,540 | 2,360 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,440 | 13,260 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $46,410 | 1,270 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,330 | 22,500 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,240 | 53,010 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,990 | 11,110 |
| Yuba City, CA | $45,880 | 1,220 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,780 | 1,080 |
| Chico, CA | $45,660 | 1,220 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $45,550 | 3,500 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,340 | 6,530 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,230 | 2,760 |
| Merced, CA | $44,680 | 1,950 |
| Redding, CA | $44,430 | 1,030 |
| El Centro, CA | $43,970 | 1,110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $38,930 | 6,040 |
Highest-paying states for teaching assistants, except postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,120 |
| District of Columbia | $46,920 |
| Maine | $46,750 |
| California | $46,490 |
| Vermont | $43,800 |
| Minnesota | $40,100 |
| Oregon | $39,850 |
| Massachusetts | $39,380 |
| Virginia | $38,520 |
| New Hampshire | $38,440 |
See Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $97,010 | $46.64 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $49,140 | — |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $98,770 | $47.48 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,650 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $101,370 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Tutor | $45,100 | $21.69 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $100,690 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,950 | — |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $87,460 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $97,170 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in California is $46,490 a year. Pay ranges from $37,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in California?
The top 10% of teaching assistants, except postsecondary in California earn at least $59,520 a year. The top 25% earn $49,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,240 a year, and a quarter of teaching assistants, except postsecondary earn $39,590 or less.
How many teaching assistants, except postsecondary work in California?
About 177,140 teaching assistants, except postsecondary are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.