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Salary comparison

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

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary by $48K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary land at $84,290 and Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary at $36,780. The education gap is real: sociology teachers, postsecondary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while teaching assistants, except postsecondary programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary is California ($127,680); for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary it's Washington ($49,120).

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Median salary
$84,290
$36,780
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$49,930
$27,150
Senior level (90th %)
$160,140
$50,040
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
11,850
1,420,350
Job growth (10-year)
2.1%
-1.5%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
California
Washington

Pay by state

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

State
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
California
$127,680
$46,490
Delaware
$123,710
$37,830
New Hampshire
$112,890
$38,440
District of Columbia
$103,160
$46,920
Oregon
$101,960
$39,850
Connecticut
$101,490
$38,110
New York
$97,540
$38,240
Massachusetts
$96,790
$39,380
Vermont
$87,620
$43,800
Minnesota
$87,340
$40,100
Wisconsin
$84,960
$37,800
Washington
$83,140
$49,120
New Jersey
$78,350
$37,290
Virginia
$78,120
$38,520
Maine
$76,010
$46,750

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

Common questions

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

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary earn more nationally. The median is $84,290 for Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary versus $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary, a difference of $48K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary has the better 10-year outlook at 2.1% projected growth, compared to -1.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Sociology 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 Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary at $127,680/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary earn $127,680 vs. $46,490 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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