Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 155,800 people employed as teaching assistants, postsecondary in the United States. The median annual salary is $38,040. Entry level employees earn approximately $22,730 per year and senior employees earn approximately $62,260 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Assist faculty members or staff with student conferences.
• Schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students.
• 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.
• Order or obtain materials needed for classes.
• Copy and distribute classroom materials.
• Notify instructors of errors or problems with assignments.
• Complete laboratory projects prior to assigning them to students so that any needed modifications can be made.
• Provide assistance to faculty members or staff with laboratory or field research.
• Demonstrate use of laboratory equipment and enforce laboratory rules.
• Attend lectures given by the supervising instructor.
• Arrange for supervisors to conduct teaching observations and provide feedback about teaching performance.
• Provide instructors with assistance in the use of audiovisual equipment.

Career List