Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary vs. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: Who Earns More?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys by $35K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys land at $36,780 and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations at $72,040. The education gap is real: teaching assistants, except postsecondary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys is Washington ($49,120); for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations it's Washington ($102,670).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations earn more nationally. The median is $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys versus $72,040 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations, a difference of $35K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
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, Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary typically requires bachelor's degree. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys get paid the most?
Washington is the top-paying state for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys 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. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys earn $49,120 vs. $102,670 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.