How much does a Teaching Assistant make?

The national average salary for a Teaching Assistant is $33,447 per year in United States. Filter by location to see a Teaching Assistant salaries in your area. Salaries estimates are based on 21223 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Teaching Assistant employees.

The highest salary for a Teaching Assistant in United States is $50,268 per year.

The lowest salary for a Teaching Assistant in United States is $22,254 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Teaching Assistant or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Teaching Assistant.

The role of teaching assistant provides practical teaching practice to graduate students, allowing candidates with some coursework to gain teaching experience before entering the full-time job market. While starting pay is low, the role includes great flexibility. Occasionally, teaching assistants earn benefits such as reduced tuition or in-state tuition. Teaching assistants are typically paid per course, so they can increase their pay by taking on new courses. Additionally, teaching assistants for advanced or graduate courses are often paid more than teaching assistants for entry-level undergraduate courses.

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Teaching assistants benefit from summer vacations, paid holiday breaks, job flexibility and advancement potential, and the chance to earn an extra $1,979.28 every year. According to Glassdoor's anonymous ratings, an estimated 69% of teaching assistants feel good about their current salaries.

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Earning a graduate degree, gaining professional experience, and nailing job-specific skills, such as pedagogy and lesson planning, all influence a teacher assistant's salary [over time](https://www.glassdoor.com/Career/how-to-become-teaching-assistant_KO14,32.htm). The salary range for professionals lands between $23,402.05 and $53,890.47, with an average salary of $33,446.62. After you've gained credibility in the field, you can also pursue a senior role as a lead teaching assistant.

Learn more about negotiating salaries from thousands of other real professionals

Remain competitive to employers and score a satisfactory salary as a teaching assistant by choosing a specialty in the field and progressing along your career path from there. Elementary, middle, high school, and college teaching assistants have different responsibilities and corresponding salaries, so moving up a grade level could help earn you more money. Likewise, teaching assistant salaries vary between school districts and cities, so a nearby district could have a higher budget for your position. Earn a positive reputation by forging close relationships with students and their families. Consider getting your graduate degree, taking additional classes, or joining a local professional organization to boost your credentials.

Prepare for the negotiation phase following a teacher assistant job offer by researching salaries in your area and local school districts. Many schools pay a set range for teaching positions of the same experience level, so this gives you a general picture of the numbers you're working with. Slide yourself toward the more profitable end of the scale by emphasizing prior experience in the field, including related work such as tutoring, teaching remotely, child care, and babysitting. In an established position, bargain for a higher salary as a teaching assistant by going above and beyond in your role, such as spending extra time tutoring or supporting students after class.