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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The Daily Work of Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Perform?
The core tasks performed by teaching assistants, postsecondary span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top teaching assistants, postsecondary rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- 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
There are about 1,120,243 teaching assistants, postsecondary working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +6.9% over the projection horizon.
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Pay
| 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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
Earnings 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
The largest employers 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:
Tools and Technology
- 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)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for 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
Getting Started in This Career
Most teaching assistants, postsecondary positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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)
Where to Study
Students preparing for 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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