Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary: Job Description
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.
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What Tasks Do Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Take On?
Typical responsibilities of teaching assistants, postsecondary cover:
- 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.
What Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Need to Know
Effective teaching assistants, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Classroom Assistant
- College Assistant
- College Biology Teaching Assistant (College Biology TA)
- Exam Proctor
- Faculty Research Assistant
- Graduate Assistant
- Graduate Fellow
- Graduate Research Assistant
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 1,120,243 teaching assistants, postsecondary working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +6.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $78,698 |
| Hourly median | $37.84 |
| 10th percentile | $53,631 |
| 25th percentile | $66,165 |
| 75th percentile | $91,231 |
| 90th percentile | $103,764 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $75,610 |
| Connecticut | $62,880 |
| New Jersey | $61,560 |
| Maryland | $56,140 |
| North Dakota | $50,570 |
| California | $50,330 |
| Minnesota | $50,260 |
| Virginia | $49,420 |
| Nebraska | $48,180 |
| Washington | $48,080 |
| Kentucky | $47,680 |
| New York | $47,400 |
| Massachusetts | $47,000 |
| Texas | $46,440 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| New Mexico | $46,330 |
| Wisconsin | $46,050 |
| New Hampshire | $45,280 |
| Maine | $44,450 |
| Rhode Island | $44,390 |
| Kansas | $43,950 |
| Oregon | $43,320 |
| North Carolina | $41,180 |
| Iowa | $40,450 |
| Arizona | $39,570 |
| District of Columbia | $39,510 |
| Idaho | $39,160 |
| Oklahoma | $38,650 |
| Michigan | $38,450 |
| Indiana | $38,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,290 |
| Missouri | $38,100 |
| Georgia | $37,730 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,460 |
| Hawaii | $36,360 |
| Illinois | $36,120 |
| Colorado | $35,940 |
| West Virginia | $34,630 |
| Nevada | $31,160 |
| Florida | $31,100 |
| South Carolina | $30,520 |
| South Dakota | $30,450 |
| Utah | $30,010 |
| Tennessee | $30,000 |
| Montana | $29,160 |
| Arkansas | $26,890 |
| Alaska | $24,400 |
| Louisiana | $23,700 |
| Alabama | $21,750 |
| Mississippi | $18,670 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for teaching assistants, postsecondary differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $54,691 | 5.3% | 1.53 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,378 | 18.3% | 1.38 |
| Far Western US | $48,962 | 20.5% | 1.34 |
| Southwest | $43,853 | 15.5% | 1.30 |
| Plains States | $42,967 | 1.7% | 0.48 |
| Great Lakes | $40,164 | 25.0% | 2.86 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $37,460 | 1.0% | 1.57 |
| Southeast | $34,904 | 10.2% | 0.71 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | OH | $80,210 | 250 |
| Toledo, OH | OH | $77,970 | 110 |
| Ponce, PR | PR | $76,850 | 210 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | OH | $75,610 | 300 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | NC | $71,320 | 250 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $65,480 | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $65,190 | 5,100 |
| New Haven, CT | CT | $64,920 | 160 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of teaching assistants, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 153,790 | n/a |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 950 | n/a |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 190 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where teaching assistants, postsecondary work:
Tech Stack
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: SAS (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Structured query language SQL (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of teaching assistants, postsecondary tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Most teaching assistants, postsecondary positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future teaching assistants, postsecondary often complete programs in:
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-9044.00 (Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary).
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