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Salary comparison

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary: Who Earns More?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary by $35K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education land at $72,040 and Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary at $36,780. The education gap is real: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education programs typically require bachelor's degree, while teaching assistants, except postsecondary programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education is Washington ($102,670); for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary it's Washington ($49,120).

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Median salary
$72,040
$36,780
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,780
$27,150
Senior level (90th %)
$107,600
$50,040
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
1,065,210
1,420,350
Job growth (10-year)
-1.6%
-1.5%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education median pay.

State
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Washington
$102,670
$49,120
California
$101,370
$46,490
New York
$97,070
$38,240
Massachusetts
$95,260
$39,380
District of Columbia
$82,750
$46,920
Connecticut
$80,970
$38,110
Oregon
$79,570
$39,850
Delaware
$77,960
$37,830
New Hampshire
$77,060
$38,440
Minnesota
$76,460
$40,100
Vermont
$76,220
$43,800
Virginia
$72,170
$38,520
Maine
$64,880
$46,750
Wisconsin
$62,870
$37,800
North Dakota
$61,210
$38,240

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn more nationally. The median is $72,040 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education versus $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary, a difference of $35K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary has the better 10-year outlook at -1.5% projected growth, compared to -1.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education typically requires bachelor's degree. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education at $102,670/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn $102,670 vs. $49,120 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary breakdownView →Full Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Best cities for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary by take-home payExplore →How to become a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educationGuide →How to become a teaching assistants, except postsecondaryGuide →