Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Also called: Classroom Assistant, College Assistant, College Biology Teaching Assistant (College Biology TA), Exam Proctor, Faculty Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Graduate Fellow, Graduate Research Assistant
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.
What teaching assistants, postsecondary do
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.
- 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.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary salary
The median annual wage for teaching assistants, postsecondary is $42,910 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $28,600 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $76,420. The mean annual wage is $47,670.
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $42,910 → in 3 years $46,700 → in 5 years $49,400 → in 10 years $57,000 (10-year range $49,000–$66,100). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become teaching assistants, postsecondary
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as teaching assistants, postsecondary
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.