Occupations · Educational Instruction and Library
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.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 25-9044.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 40% between 2019 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $37,410 | 12,930 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $50,010 | 9,260 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $34,460 | 8,980 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $42,280 | 7,730 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $65,190 | 5,100 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $56,140 | 4,790 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $57,660 | 4,630 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $58,150 | 3,380 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $62,880 | 3,220 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $48,060 | 2,990 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47,000 | 2,880 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,770 | 2,740 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Complete laboratory projects prior to assigning them to students so that any needed modifications can be made.
- Demonstrate use of laboratory equipment and enforce laboratory rules.
- Provide assistance to faculty members or staff with laboratory or field research.
- Meet with supervisors to discuss students' grades or to complete required grade-related paperwork.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2016-07
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2016-07
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Correspond with students through email to address their questions and concerns.
O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2020
Comparing O*NET release 25.1 (2020-11-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 2
No longer listed 4
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| university teaching assistant | 2310.1.42 | exact |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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