Graduate Teaching Assistant: Job Description, Pay & Outlook

What does a graduate teaching assistant do?

Teaching assistants, postsecondary, assist faculty by teaching or leading discussion sections and labs, grading and tutoring, usually while enrolled in graduate school. The median pay is $42,910 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Start during graduate school, and employment is projected to grow +2.7% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$42,910
Annual salary · May 2025
Job growth
+2.7%
2025–35, about as fast as average
Openings per year
25,700
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
Start during graduate school
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
205,500
Employment, 2025

What graduate teaching assistants do

Graduate teaching assistants help run college courses. They lead discussion sections and labs, grade papers and exams, hold office hours and sometimes teach their own intro course, all while working on a master’s or doctorate. Most assistantships pay a stipend and cover tuition.

TAs typically have a bachelor’s degree and are enrolled in graduate school. It’s usually a step toward an academic or research career.

Typical duties

Lead discussion sections
Run labs
Grade assignments
Hold office hours
Help faculty with courses
Tutor students
Proctor exams

Work environment and schedule

TAs work in classrooms, labs and offices on campus.

Schedule: Part-time, usually about 20 hours a week, alongside graduate study.

A day in the life

9:00 AMLead a chemistry lab.
11:30 AMMeet the professor about exams.
12:30 PMGrade lab reports.
2:00 PMTake your own graduate seminar.

See a full day in the life of a graduate teaching assistant →

Graduate Teaching Assistant salary

Half of graduate teaching assistants earned more than $42,910 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $28,600 for the lowest 10% to $76,420 for the top 10%.

$28,60010th$42,910Median$76,42090th

Full graduate teaching assistant pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a graduate teaching assistant

Earn a bachelor’s
Apply to graduate school
Complete TA training
Teach sections or labs
Grow

A bachelor’s degree and enrollment in a graduate program are typical.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a graduate teaching assistant →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Subject knowledge
Leading discussions
Lab instruction
Grading
Tutoring

People skills

Patience
Organization
Communication
Reliability

All graduate teaching assistant skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Tuition often covered
Teaching experience
Build an academic resume
Flexible campus life

Cons

Low stipends
Balancing study and teaching
Grading load
Temporary role

Certifications and licenses

TA training: Campus orientation.
Graduate teaching certificate: Optional.
Lab safety training: For lab TAs.
FERPA training: Student privacy.

Career path

Teaching Assistant: Sections and labs.
Lead TA: Coordinate TAs.
Instructor of Record: Teach a course.
Professor: After the doctorate.

Learn the job before day one

Our Graduate Teaching Assistant training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as lead your first discussion section and grade consistently with a rubric, safety and how to land your first job.

View Graduate Teaching Assistant training Is this career right for me?

Tutor

Help students master subjects and prepare for tests one-on-one.

$43,350
Weeks to months

Psychology Professor

Teach how people think, feel and behave, and research the mind.

$80,340
5–7 years after a bachelor’s

English Professor

Teach college students to read closely and write well.

$78,760
6–8 years after a bachelor’s

Biology Professor

Teach life sciences and lead biology research at the college level.

$84,620
6–9 years after a bachelor’s

Compare: Graduate Teaching Assistant vs. Tutor · Graduate Teaching Assistant vs. Psychology Professor · Graduate Teaching Assistant vs. English Professor · Graduate Teaching Assistant vs. Biology Professor

Graduate Teaching Assistant FAQ

Do teaching assistants get paid?

Usually a stipend, often with tuition covered.

How many hours do TAs work?

Often about 20 hours a week.

Is TA experience valuable?

Yes, especially for academic careers.

How much does a graduate teaching assistant make?

The median annual wage for graduate teaching assistants was $42,910 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $28,600 and the highest 10% earned more than $76,420.

How long does it take to become a graduate teaching assistant?

Most people need about Start during graduate school of training. A bachelor’s degree and enrollment in a graduate program are typical.

Do you need a degree to be a graduate teaching assistant?

Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.

More graduate teaching assistant questions →

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 25-9044 (Teaching assistants, postsecondary).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Teaching assistants, postsecondary (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Graduate Teaching Assistant