Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$36,780
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$17.68
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$50,040
entry level starts ~$27,150
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 1,420,000 employed

How much does a Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary make?

The median pay for a Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary in the United States is $36,780 per year — about $17.68 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $27,150, while the most experienced Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the top 10% earn $50,040.

That is $24,610 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary salary range by percentile

Half of all Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary earn between $31,060 and $45,360 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$27,150$13.05
25th percentile (early career)$31,060$14.93
50th percentile (median)$36,780$17.68
75th percentile (experienced)$45,360$21.81
90th percentile (top earners)$50,040$24.06

Highest-paying states for Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary pay at $49,120 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($46,920) and Maine ($46,750). At the other end, Alabama posts the lowest median at $24,070 — a gap of $25,050 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Washington$49,120$23.62+34%
2District of Columbia$46,920$22.56+28%
3Maine$46,750$22.48+27%
4California$46,490$22.35+26%
5Vermont$43,800$21.06+19%

Workforce and education

About 1,420,000 people work as Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $38,290 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary make in the United States?
The median Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary salary in the United States is $36,780 per year, or about $17.68 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $27,150, while the top 10% of earners make $50,040 or more.
How does Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary median of $36,780 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary, with a median salary of $49,120 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary?
Becoming a Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary work in the United States?
About 1,420,000 people were employed as Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other education roles with similar pay.

Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary

$42,910
median pay · 164,000 employed

Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education

$38,140
median pay · 479,000 employed

Self-Enrichment Teacher

$46,800
median pay · 332,000 employed

Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other

$50,890
median pay · 119,000 employed

Museum Technicians and Conservators

$51,440
median pay · 12,000 employed

Tutor

$43,350
median pay · 175,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.