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Salary comparison

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

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys by $61K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys land at $98,070 and Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys at $36,780. The education gap is real: political science teachers, postsecondary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while teaching assistants, except postsecondary programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys is Massachusetts ($128,150); for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys it's Washington ($49,120).

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Median salary
$98,070
$36,780
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$56,450
$27,150
Senior level (90th %)
$174,660
$50,040
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
16,970
1,420,350
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
Washington

Pay by state

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

State
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Massachusetts
$128,150
$39,380
California
$124,890
$46,490
New Hampshire
$124,110
$38,440
Vermont
$107,490
$43,800
New York
$104,050
$38,240
District of Columbia
$102,310
$46,920
Virginia
$101,430
$38,520
Rhode Island
$101,320
$37,220
Washington
$101,140
$49,120
New Jersey
$100,260
$37,290
Connecticut
$100,230
$38,110
Minnesota
$97,170
$40,100
Maine
$96,760
$46,750
Oregon
$83,580
$39,850
Wisconsin
$83,190
$37,800

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys?

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys earn more nationally. The median is $98,070 for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys versus $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys, a difference of $61K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Political Science 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 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys at $128,150/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys earn $128,150 vs. $39,380 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Full Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Best cities for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys by take-home payExplore →How to become a political science teachers, postsecondaryGuide →How to become a teaching assistants, except postsecondaryGuide →