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Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $42,910 Median per year Most earn $28,600–$76,420

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Teach undergraduate-level courses.
  • Arrange for supervisors to conduct teaching observations and provide feedback about teaching performance.
  • Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers, and record grades.
  • Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.
  • Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.
  • Notify instructors of errors or problems with assignments.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 25,700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools89.6%
  • Junior colleges8.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

Postsecondary Teaching Assistant is an entry-level job for people with a bachelor's degree, and most people need only about 1 to 3 months of related experience before taking it on. Many students hold similar roles while completing their own degrees.

  1. Bachelor's degree in the subject you want to support

    4 years

    Study the subject closely, do well in your courses, and build strong writing and speaking skills, since TAs explain ideas and grade work.

  2. Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary

    1-3 months of related experience first

    Start by helping faculty with grading, leading discussion groups, and preparing class materials, usually in the department where you studied.

Where it can lead

  1. Instructional Coordinator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You would shift from helping one course to designing curriculum and training instructors across a program or school, which usually requires a master's degree.

  2. Postsecondary Education Teacher

    Doctoral or professional degree, plus about 4-6 years of related work of experience first

    Teaching assistants who go on to earn a doctorate can lead their own courses and do research as college professors.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take the classes you'd want to teach laterStrong grades in subjects like math, science, English, or history show you can handle the content and prepare you for college-level courses.
  • Tutor younger studentsHelping classmates or younger kids through a school tutoring program builds the explaining and patience skills TAs use every day.
  • Join a debate, speech, or academic clubSpeaking in front of groups and discussing ideas with others builds the confidence needed to lead discussion sections.
  • Volunteer as a reading or homework helperWorking with kids at a library, community center, or after-school program gives you real experience helping others learn.

In college

  • Become a peer tutor or learning center assistantCampus tutoring jobs give you paid experience explaining course material, which is close to what TAs do.
  • Ask a professor about a grader or lab assistant roleWorking with faculty directly teaches you how grading, class planning, and course materials come together.
  • Take upper-level courses in your majorAdvanced classes deepen your subject knowledge so you can answer harder student questions with confidence.
  • Join a student organization in your fieldLeading meetings or organizing events builds the leadership and communication skills useful in discussion groups.
  • Take a course or workshop on teachingMany colleges offer classes or training on teaching methods, which helps you prepare for TA duties and stand out when applying.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask professors in your major whether they need a grader, lab assistant, or discussion leader. Those roles are the most direct way to get the experience this job asks for.
  • Keep your grades strong in the subject you'd like to teach, because TA positions are often filled by students who did well in the same courses.
  • Practice explaining hard ideas to friends or classmates. Being clear and patient is a big part of this job.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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