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Salary comparison

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 Education out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary by $35K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary land at $36,780 and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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 Postsecondary is Washington ($49,120); for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education it's Washington ($102,670).

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median salary
$36,780
$72,040
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$27,150
$48,780
Senior level (90th %)
$50,040
$107,600
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
1,420,350
1,065,210
Job growth (10-year)
-1.5%
-1.6%
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
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Washington
$49,120
$102,670
District of Columbia
$46,920
$82,750
California
$46,490
$101,370
Oregon
$39,850
$79,570
Massachusetts
$39,380
$95,260
New York
$38,240
$97,070
Connecticut
$38,110
$80,970
Delaware
$37,830
$77,960
New Jersey
$37,290
$82,200
Rhode Island
$37,220
$92,610
Alaska
$37,190
$79,650
Maryland
$37,060
$78,670
Illinois
$36,990
$79,990
Ohio
$35,920
$78,800
Pennsylvania
$34,740
$78,800

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

Common questions

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

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn more nationally. The median is $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary versus $72,040 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, 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?

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, 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 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. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay differ by state?

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

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