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Salary comparison

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary: Who Earns More?

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys by $43K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys land at $80,250 and Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys at $36,780. The education gap is real: nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while teaching assistants, except postsecondary programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys is Hawaii ($129,530); for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys it's Washington ($49,120).

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Median salary
$80,250
$36,780
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,800
$27,150
Senior level (90th %)
$129,500
$50,040
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
77,960
1,420,350
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Hawaii
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary median pay.

State
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
District of Columbia
$107,770
$46,920
Delaware
$98,170
$37,830
Connecticut
$95,500
$38,110
Massachusetts
$85,130
$39,380
Wisconsin
$84,700
$37,800
New York
$82,950
$38,240
Virginia
$82,550
$38,520
California
$81,960
$46,490
Washington
$81,630
$49,120
Minnesota
$81,280
$40,100
North Dakota
$80,710
$38,240
Maine
$79,600
$46,750
New Hampshire
$78,310
$38,440
Oregon
$78,050
$39,850
Vermont
$66,660
$43,800

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys?

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys earn more nationally. The median is $80,250 for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys versus $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys, a difference of $43K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

Nursing Instructors and 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 Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys at $129,530/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys earn $107,770 vs. $46,920 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Full Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Best cities for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondarys by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys by take-home payExplore →How to become a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondaryGuide →How to become a teaching assistants, except postsecondaryGuide →