Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary
In Michigan, teaching assistants, except postsecondaries earn $35,110 at the median. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $37,395 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 53.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $35K get you in Michigan?
About teaching assistants, except postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Michigan
Teaching assistants, except postsecondary pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $35K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,272/month, which is 53.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level teaching assistants, except postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary by metro in Michigan
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $37K | +5% | 640 |
| Jackson | $37K | +4% | 700 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $36K | +3% | 5,490 |
| Ann Arbor | $36K | +3% | 1,760 |
| Battle Creek | $36K | +1% | 490 |
| Niles | $35K | +1% | 690 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $35K | +1% | 14,660 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $35K | -0% | 530 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $35K | -0% | 1,950 |
| Monroe | $35K | -1% | 640 |
| Saginaw | $34K | -3% | 810 |
| Flint | $34K | -4% | 1,860 |
| Midland | $32K | -10% | 490 |
| Bay City | $32K | -10% | 300 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $31K | -11% | 730 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a teaching assistants, except postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 53.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for teaching assistants, except postsecondaries in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new teaching assistants, except postsecondaries typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,653/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 77% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is teaching assistants, except postsecondary a high-paying job in Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $35K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for teaching assistants, except postsecondaries?
Michigan pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do teaching assistants, except postsecondaries make in Michigan?
The median is $35,110 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,550, and experienced teaching assistants, except postsecondaries can clear $45,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,396/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 53.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary go in Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary is worth about $37,395 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do teaching assistants, except postsecondaries get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.