Career comparison
Graduate Teaching Assistant vs. Psychology Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Psychology professors earn more at the median ($80,340 vs. $42,910), while graduate teaching assistants usually get to work faster (Start during graduate school of training). Graduate teaching assistants teach college sections and labs while earning a graduate degree. Psychology professors teach how people think, feel and behave, and research the mind.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Graduate Teaching Assistant | Psychology Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $42,910 | $80,340 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $28,600 – $76,420 | $49,050 – $153,600 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.7% (about as fast as average) | +4.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 25,700 | 3,700 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | Start during graduate school | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | TA training | Ph.D. in psychology |
| Work setting | TAs work in classrooms, labs and offices on campus.. | Faculty work in classrooms, research labs and offices.. |
What each job does
Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Lead discussion sections
- Run labs
- Grade assignments
- Hold office hours
- Help faculty with courses
Psychology Professor
- Teach psychology courses
- Teach research methods and statistics
- Run a research lab
- Supervise student researchers
- Conduct studies
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, helping others, working independently, and indoor work. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose graduate teaching assistant if…
- I’m going to graduate school
- I like explaining my field
- I can balance many tasks
Choose psychology professor if…
- I love psychology
- I enjoy research
- I like mentoring
Still torn? Take the Graduate Teaching Assistant fit quiz and the Psychology Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, graduate teaching assistant or psychology professor?
Psychology Professors earn more at the median: $80,340 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 psychology professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects psychology professors to grow +4.0% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for graduate teaching assistants.