Career comparison
Biology Professor vs. Graduate Teaching Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Biology professors earn more at the median ($84,620 vs. $42,910), while graduate teaching assistants usually get to work faster (Start during graduate school of training). Biology professors teach life sciences and lead biology research at the college level. Graduate teaching assistants teach college sections and labs while earning a graduate degree.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Biology Professor | Graduate Teaching Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $84,620 | $42,910 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $52,150 – $169,900 | $28,600 – $76,420 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.3% (much faster than average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 4,700 | 25,700 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6–9 years after a bachelor’s | Start during graduate school |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in biology | TA training |
| Work setting | Biology faculty work in classrooms, labs, field sites and offices.. | TAs work in classrooms, labs and offices on campus.. |
What each job does
Biology Professor
- Teach biology courses
- Run teaching labs
- Lead a research lab
- Mentor student researchers
- Write grant proposals
Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Lead discussion sections
- Run labs
- Grade assignments
- Hold office hours
- Help faculty with courses
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently, working with people, and indoor work. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose biology professor if…
- I love biology
- I want to run a lab
- I enjoy teaching
Choose graduate teaching assistant if…
- I’m going to graduate school
- I like explaining my field
- I can balance many tasks
Still torn? Take the Biology Professor fit quiz and the Graduate Teaching Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, biology professor or graduate teaching assistant?
Biology Professors earn more at the median: $84,620 versus $42,910 for graduate teaching assistants, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Graduate Teaching Assistants typically train faster (Start during graduate school) than biology professors (6–9 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects biology professors to grow +7.3% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for graduate teaching assistants.