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Salary comparison

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Who Earns More?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary by $27K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary land at $36,780 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education at $63,970. The education gap is real: teaching assistants, except postsecondary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while elementary school teachers, except special education programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary is Washington ($49,120); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education it's Washington ($102,350).

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Median salary
$36,780
$63,970
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$27,150
$47,960
Senior level (90th %)
$50,040
$104,340
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
1,420,350
1,388,390
Job growth (10-year)
-1.5%
-2%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary median pay.

State
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Washington
$49,120
$102,350
District of Columbia
$46,920
$96,580
California
$46,490
$99,650
Minnesota
$40,100
$76,350
Oregon
$39,850
$77,130
Massachusetts
$39,380
$94,000
New York
$38,240
$85,760
Connecticut
$38,110
$80,600
Delaware
$37,830
$75,920
New Jersey
$37,290
$78,200
Rhode Island
$37,220
$90,930
Alaska
$37,190
$79,260
Maryland
$37,060
$77,680
Ohio
$35,920
$77,370
Pennsylvania
$34,740
$77,060

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn more nationally. The median is $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary versus $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, a difference of $27K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary has the better 10-year outlook at -1.5% projected growth, compared to -2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

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

Where do Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary at $49,120/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary earn $49,120 vs. $102,350 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Full Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary breakdownView →Best cities for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by take-home payExplore →How to become a teaching assistants, except postsecondaryGuide →How to become a elementary school teachers, except special educationGuide →