Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary salary in the U.S.
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in the U.S. earn a median of $42,910 a year, based on BLS data for 164,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,420 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $47,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for teaching assistants, postsecondary in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 |
| 25th percentile | $35,270 |
| Median | $42,910 |
| 75th percentile | $60,510 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,420 |
| Average (mean) | $47,670 |
Half of teaching assistants, 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 | $3,575.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,787.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,650.38 |
| Weekly | $825.19 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because teaching assistants, 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, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $58,330 | 5,030 |
| Massachusetts | $56,370 | 3,040 |
| Texas | $55,670 | 13,540 |
| New Jersey | $54,260 | 3,390 |
| Minnesota | $53,380 | 600 |
| Utah | $52,300 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $50,460 | 1,480 |
| North Carolina | $50,050 | 2,900 |
| North Dakota | $49,960 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $49,920 | 1,680 |
| Virginia | $49,890 | 1,660 |
| Arizona | $49,810 | 7,200 |
| Kentucky | $49,680 | 990 |
| Oregon | $49,550 | 880 |
| Rhode Island | $49,420 | 50 |
| California | $49,140 | 19,120 |
| Georgia | $48,800 | 2,470 |
| Ohio | $48,710 | 2,210 |
| Vermont | $48,620 | 60 |
| New Mexico | $48,270 | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $47,990 | 4,210 |
| Puerto Rico | $47,440 | 1,640 |
| Maine | $47,210 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $46,760 | 2,730 |
| New York | $43,610 | 17,390 |
| District of Columbia | $43,160 | 130 |
| Kansas | $41,580 | 640 |
| South Dakota | $39,840 | 460 |
| Michigan | $39,830 | 18,440 |
| Nebraska | $39,650 | 730 |
| Iowa | $38,960 | 560 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,020 | 2,480 |
| Louisiana | $37,950 | 440 |
| Florida | $37,770 | 9,130 |
| Colorado | $37,450 | 530 |
| Idaho | $37,310 | 220 |
| Tennessee | $36,950 | 300 |
| Illinois | $36,040 | 12,340 |
| West Virginia | $35,960 | 40 |
| Alaska | $35,790 | 70 |
| Indiana | $34,910 | 1,940 |
| Montana | $30,070 | 380 |
| New Hampshire | $26,810 | 480 |
| Nevada | $24,960 | 540 |
| Arkansas | $23,140 | 2,600 |
| Alabama | $22,600 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for teaching assistants, postsecondary
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $78,510 | 310 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $68,230 | 100 |
| Syracuse, NY | $65,670 | n/a |
| Lubbock, TX | $64,160 | 1,830 |
| Merced, CA | $63,220 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $61,780 | 4,800 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $61,730 | 120 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $61,540 | 330 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $60,470 | 40 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $60,210 | n/a |
| Bellingham, WA | $59,240 | 30 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $58,330 | 4,290 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $57,930 | 1,290 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $57,790 | 4,370 |
| Toledo, OH | $54,390 | 160 |
Metro areas with the most teaching assistants, postsecondary
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 12,860 | $38,990 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 12,430 | $45,100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 8,860 | $35,760 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 5,990 | $39,940 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 4,800 | $61,780 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 4,450 | $49,810 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 4,370 | $57,790 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,290 | $58,330 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 2,760 | $38,440 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,730 | $38,490 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,500 | $49,760 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 2,480 | $50,110 |
| Madison, WI | 2,420 | $47,990 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,400 | $45,120 |
| Tucson, AZ | 2,260 | $45,810 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,780 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| 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 | — |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-9044. 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, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The median salary for teaching assistants, postsecondary in the U.S. is $42,910 a year. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid teaching assistants, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of teaching assistants, postsecondary in the U.S. earn at least $76,420 a year. The top 25% earn $60,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for teaching assistants, postsecondary in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,600 a year, and a quarter of teaching assistants, postsecondary earn $35,270 or less.
How many teaching assistants, postsecondary work in the U.S.?
About 164,090 teaching assistants, postsecondary are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.