Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
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.
Also called: Graduate Assistant · Graduate Fellow · Graduate Research Assistant · Graduate Student · Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) · Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
Median pay (national)
$44,930
$28,020–$73,560 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
155,010
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.1%
~24,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for teaching assistants, postsecondary shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $73,560 versus $28,020 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $44,930 leaves roughly 64% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.1% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 24,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 50 states with released data, Ohio pays the most for this role (median $75,610, +68% vs the national median), while Mississippi sits lowest at $18,670 — a 305% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers, and record grades.
- Lead discussion sections, tutorials, or laboratory sections.
- Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.
- Prepare or proctor examinations.
- Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.
- Meet with supervisors to discuss students' grades or to complete required grade-related paperwork.
- Schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students.
- Order or obtain materials needed for classes.
- Copy and distribute classroom materials.
- Teach undergraduate-level courses.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Adobe Photoshop
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- SAS
- Structured query language SQL
- Blackboard Learn
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- DOC Cop
- Image scanning software
- iParadigms Turnitin
- Learning management system LMS
- Sakai CLE
- Web browser software
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Communications and Media
- Psychology
- Administrative
- Sociology and Anthropology