Education & Library
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Also called: Graduate Assistant, Graduate Fellow, Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Student
US median pay
$42,910
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+2.7%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
25,700
205,500 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Assist faculty or other instructional staff in postsecondary institutions by performing instructional support activities, such as developing teaching materials, leading discussion groups, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers.
What they do day to day
- Teach undergraduate-level courses.
- Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers, and record grades.
- Lead discussion sections, tutorials, or laboratory sections.
- Develop teaching materials, such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, or course Web sites.
- Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.
- Return assignments to students in accordance with established deadlines.
- Prepare or proctor examinations.
- Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.
- Meet with supervisors to discuss students' grades or to complete required grade-related paperwork.
- Schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Instructing3.5/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Persuasion2.4/5
Knowledge
- English Language4.7/5
- Education and Training4.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
- Mathematics3.3/5
- Communications and Media2.9/5
- Psychology2.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree57%
- Master's degree37%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.