Salary guide
Graduate Teaching Assistant Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What graduate teaching assistants earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median graduate teaching assistant salary in the U.S. is $42,910 per year based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $28,600, while the top 10% earned more than $76,420.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Graduate Teaching Assistant pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $35,270 | $16.96 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $42,910 | $20.63 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $60,510 | $29.09 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $76,420 | $36.74 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours; BLS publishes annual wages only for this occupation. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $35,270 | $42,910 | $60,510 |
| Per month | $2,939 | $3,576 | $5,043 |
| Every two weeks | $1,357 | $1,650 | $2,327 |
| Per week | $678 | $825 | $1,164 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects graduate teaching assistant pay
- Public versus private schools and centers
- Degree level and state salary schedules
- Subject or specialty shortages (special education, STEM, career and technical education)
- Extra-duty pay for coaching, summer school and tutoring
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as a graduate teaching assistant
- Get credentialed: TA training, Graduate teaching certificate, Lab safety training.
- Build specialty experience: Coordinate TAs.
- Move up: roles such as instructor of record and professor typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Graduate Teaching Assistant pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of graduate teaching assistants to change by +2.7% from 2025–35, about as fast as average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 25,700 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 25-9044 (“Teaching assistants, postsecondary”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Graduate Teaching Assistant salary FAQ
How much does a graduate teaching assistant make per hour?
BLS reports only annual wages for graduate teaching assistants, because most are paid a yearly salary rather than by the hour. Spread over a standard 2,080-hour work year, the May 2025 median of $42,910 works out to about $20.63 an hour.
How much does a graduate teaching assistant make a month?
At the median annual wage of $42,910, that works out to about $3,576 per month before taxes, or about $1,650 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for a graduate teaching assistant?
New graduate teaching assistants often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $28,600 and the 25th percentile was $35,270 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can graduate teaching assistants earn more?
Common ways include earning TA training and Graduate teaching certificate, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as instructor of record.
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.