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

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

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$42,910
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$20.63
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$76,420
entry level starts ~$28,600
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 164,000 employed

How much does a Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary make?

A Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary earns a median annual salary of $42,910 in the United States, which works out to roughly $20.63 per hour for full-time work. Most Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary earn between $28,600 at the entry level and $76,420 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $35,270 and $60,510 a year.

That is $18,480 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary salary range by percentile

Half of all Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary earn between $35,270 and $60,510 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$28,600$13.75
25th percentile (early career)$35,270$16.96
50th percentile (median)$42,910$20.63
75th percentile (experienced)$60,510$29.09
90th percentile (top earners)$76,420$36.74

Highest-paying states for Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Maryland leads the country for Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary pay at $58,330 a year, followed by Massachusetts ($56,370) and Texas ($55,670). At the other end, Alabama posts the lowest median at $22,600 — a gap of $35,730 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Maryland$58,330$28.04+36%
2Massachusetts$56,370$27.10+31%
3Texas$55,670$26.76+30%
4New Jersey$54,260$26.09+26%
5Minnesota$53,380$25.66+24%

Workforce and education

About 164,000 people work as Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $47,670 — 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, Postsecondary make in the United States?
The median Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary salary in the United States is $42,910 per year, or about $20.63 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $28,600, while the top 10% of earners make $76,420 or more.
How does Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary median of $42,910 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary the most?
Maryland is the highest-paying state for Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $58,330 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary?
Becoming a Teaching Assistant, 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, Postsecondary work in the United States?
About 164,000 people were employed as Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other education roles with similar pay.

Substitute Teacher, Short-Term

$41,670
median pay · 525,000 employed

Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education

$38,140
median pay · 479,000 employed

Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other

$50,890
median pay · 119,000 employed

Teaching Assistant, Except Postsecondary

$36,780
median pay · 1,420,000 employed

Self-Enrichment Teacher

$46,800
median pay · 332,000 employed

Museum Technicians and Conservators

$51,440
median pay · 12,000 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.