California Median
$49,140
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.63
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+15% vs US median
US median $42,910
State Rank
#16 of 45
19,120 employed here
How much does a Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary make in California?
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in California take home a median of $49,140 annually — roughly $23.63 an hour — which runs 15% above the national median of $42,910.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $35,460 while the top 10% make $77,440 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,440 and $64,280 a year.
Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,460 | $17.05 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $37,440 | $18.00 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $49,140 | $23.63 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $64,280 | $30.90 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,440 | $37.23 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 16th out of 45 states and territories for Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary salary in other states
Maryland $58,330Massachusetts $56,370Texas $55,670New Jersey $54,260Minnesota $53,380Utah $52,300Washington $50,460North Carolina $50,050North Dakota $49,960Oklahoma $49,920Virginia $49,890Arizona $49,810Kentucky $49,680Oregon $49,550Rhode Island $49,420Georgia $48,800Ohio $48,710Vermont $48,620New Mexico $48,270Wisconsin $47,990Maine $47,210South Carolina $46,760New York $43,610District of Columbia $43,160Kansas $41,580South Dakota $39,840Michigan $39,830Nebraska $39,650Iowa $38,960Pennsylvania $38,020Louisiana $37,950Florida $37,770Colorado $37,450Idaho $37,310Tennessee $36,950Illinois $36,040West Virginia $35,960Alaska $35,790Indiana $34,910Montana $30,070New Hampshire $26,810Nevada $24,960Arkansas $23,140Alabama $22,600
Working as a Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary in California
Nationally, about 164,000 people work as Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($49,140) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary make in California?
The median Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary salary in California is $49,140 per year, or about $23.63 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,460 at the entry level to $77,440 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary about 15% more than the national median of $42,910. California ranks 16th out of 45 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $49,140 a year. About 19,120 Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.