Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Career, Salary and Skills
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $42,910 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 164,090. Wage data is published for 186 locations.
Occupation description
Assist faculty or other instructional staff in postsecondary institutions by performing instructional support activities, such as developing teaching materials, leading discussion groups, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers.
O*NET code
25-9044.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$42,910
Hourly median
Not published
Employment
164,090
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Active Listening | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Instructing | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Writing | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Teach undergraduate-level courses.
- Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers, and record grades.
- Lead discussion sections, tutorials, or laboratory sections.
- Develop teaching materials, such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, or course Web sites.
- Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.
- Return assignments to students in accordance with established deadlines.
- Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.
- Prepare or proctor examinations.
Technology
- Adobe Photoshop
- Blackboard Learn
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- DOC Cop
- Email software
- Google Docs
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Image scanning software
- iParadigms Turnitin
- Learning management system LMS
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in CAMedian $49,140 · Employment 19,120
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in MIMedian $39,830 · Employment 18,440
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in NYMedian $43,610 · Employment 17,390
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in TXMedian $55,670 · Employment 13,540
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in Ann Arbor, MIMedian $38,990 · Employment 12,860
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in New York, NYMedian $45,100 · Employment 12,430
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in ILMedian $36,040 · Employment 12,340
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in FLMedian $37,770 · Employment 9,130
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $35,760 · Employment 8,860
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in AZMedian $49,810 · Employment 7,200
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $39,940 · Employment 5,990
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in MDMedian $58,330 · Employment 5,030
Related careers
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolNational median $66,270
- Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolNational median $66,810
- Special Education Teachers, Elementary SchoolNational median not published
- Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $84,620
- Library Science Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $80,340
- Special Education Teachers, KindergartenNational median not published
- Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $80,340
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolNational median $74,260
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.