Education and libraries
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.
Median pay
$42,910
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
25,700
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Teaching assistants, postsecondary
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Teaching assistants, postsecondary: 32% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Graduate Assistant · Graduate Fellow · Graduate Research Assistant · Graduate Student · Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) · Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) · Research Assistant (RA) · Teaching Assistant (TA)
Outlook and AI
Teaching assistants, postsecondary held 205,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 211,000 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Teaching assistants, postsecondary vs. Tutor
- Teaching assistants, postsecondary vs. High school teacher
- Teaching assistants, postsecondary vs. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Teaching assistants, postsecondary vs. Career/technical education teachers, middle school
- Teaching assistants, postsecondary vs. Elementary school teacher
- Teaching assistants, postsecondary vs. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Teaching assistants, postsecondary vs. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Teaching assistants, postsecondary vs. Instructional coordinator