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Salary comparison

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary: Who Earns More?

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary by $61K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Geography Teachers, Postsecondary land at $97,590 and Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary at $36,780. The education gap is real: geography teachers, postsecondary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while teaching assistants, except postsecondary programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary is California ($146,040); for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary it's Washington ($49,120).

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Median salary
$97,590
$36,780
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$52,550
$27,150
Senior level (90th %)
$165,460
$50,040
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
3,330
1,420,350
Job growth (10-year)
3.3%
-1.5%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
California
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Geography Teachers, Postsecondary median pay.

State
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
California
$146,040
$46,490
Oregon
$113,500
$39,850
Vermont
$107,790
$43,800
Connecticut
$105,470
$38,110
Maryland
$103,430
$37,060
Massachusetts
$101,870
$39,380
Illinois
$100,790
$36,990
New York
$100,420
$38,240
Minnesota
$95,890
$40,100
Washington
$90,550
$49,120
New Mexico
$89,060
$35,900
Missouri
$83,530
$36,300
Ohio
$81,290
$35,920
Wisconsin
$78,710
$37,800
New Jersey
$78,540
$37,290

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Geography Teachers, Postsecondary or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary earn more nationally. The median is $97,590 for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary versus $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary, a difference of $61K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Geography Teachers, Postsecondary or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary has the better 10-year outlook at 3.3% projected growth, compared to -1.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Geography Teachers, Postsecondary or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary typically requires bachelor's degree. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Geography Teachers, Postsecondary get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary at $146,040/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Geography Teachers, Postsecondary vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Geography Teachers, Postsecondary earn $146,040 vs. $46,490 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Geography Teachers, Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Full Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Best cities for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary by take-home payExplore →How to become a geography teachers, postsecondaryGuide →How to become a teaching assistants, except postsecondaryGuide →