A teaching assistant in postsecondary education supports faculty and students in college and university settings. You'll teach, grade, and mentor while gaining experience in your field. It typically requires a bachelor's degree and strong communication skills.
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Teaching assistants work in colleges and universities helping professors deliver instruction and support student learning. You'll lead discussion sections, grade assignments, hold office hours, and explain course material to students. Much of your work involves one-on-one and small group teaching. You'll also document student progress, prepare course materials, and use computers to manage grades and communicate with students and supervisors. The role requires you to interpret complex information and present it clearly to learners at various levels.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary earn a median of $42,910 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 24,600 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most postsecondary teaching assistant positions require a bachelor's degree, and many prefer or require graduate study in your subject area. You'll need strong reading comprehension, active listening, and writing skills. The path typically involves completing a bachelor's degree first, then pursuing graduate coursework or a graduate degree while working as a teaching assistant. This extensive preparation develops your expertise in both your subject and teaching methods. Look for graduate programs that include teaching assistant positions as part of their funding packages.
Most paths to this role go through graduate school or advanced coursework in your field. If you're deciding between different graduate programs or wondering how to position yourself for a teaching assistant role, Pathly can map the teaching assistant, postsecondary path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to find the right next step.
You're drawn to work that centers on people and helping others learn. You enjoy communicating ideas clearly, building relationships, and supporting others' growth and development.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
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Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).