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Salary comparison

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

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education out-earn Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary by $21K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary land at $42,910 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education at $63,970. The education gap is real: teaching assistants, 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, Postsecondary is Maryland ($58,330); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education it's Washington ($102,350).

Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Median salary
$42,910
$63,970
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$28,600
$47,960
Senior level (90th %)
$76,420
$104,340
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
164,090
1,388,390
Job growth (10-year)
3.1%
-2%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Maryland
Washington

Pay by state

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

State
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Maryland
$58,330
$77,680
Massachusetts
$56,370
$94,000
New Jersey
$54,260
$78,200
Minnesota
$53,380
$76,350
Utah
$52,300
$74,810
Washington
$50,460
$102,350
Oregon
$49,550
$77,130
Rhode Island
$49,420
$90,930
California
$49,140
$99,650
Ohio
$48,710
$77,370
New York
$43,610
$85,760
District of Columbia
$43,160
$96,580
Pennsylvania
$38,020
$77,060
Illinois
$36,040
$75,320
Alaska
$35,790
$79,260

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

Common questions

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

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn more nationally. The median is $42,910 for Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary versus $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, a difference of $21K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary has the better 10-year outlook at 3.1% projected growth, compared to -2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Teaching Assistants, 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, Postsecondary get paid the most?

Maryland is the top-paying state for Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary at $58,330/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Maryland, Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary earn $58,330 vs. $77,680 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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