Skip to content
AffordMap
Education

Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in California

In California, teaching assistants, postsecondarys earn $50,330 at the median. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers.

AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)

$50K
Median annual
N/A
Hourly rate
$35K
Entry level (10th %)
$78K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $50K get you in California?

Take-home$3,431/mo
2BR rent (est.)-$2,201/mo
Rent burden64.2% (above 30%)
COL-adjusted salary$50,330/yr
After rent$1,230/mo
See how this compares in other cities →

About teaching assistants, postsecondarys

U.S. employed: 26,370
Category: Education
View teaching positions
Currently hiring in California
View (opens in new tab)

Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, California

Bar chart showing Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary salary percentiles in California: 10th percentile $34,940, 25th percentile $37,280, median $50,330, 75th percentile $66,270, 90th percentile $77,790. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$35K25th$37KMedian$50K75th$66K90th$78K
Bar chart showing Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary salary percentiles in California: 10th percentile $34,940, 25th percentile $37,280, median $50,330, 75th percentile $66,270, 90th percentile $77,790. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level teaching assistants, postsecondarys (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K.Top earners bring in $78K or more - a $43K spread from bottom to top.

Share

Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary pay across states

Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure

StateMedian salaryvs. nationalEmployment
Ohio$76K+68%1,650
Connecticut$63K+40%3,800
New Jersey$62K+37%3,140
Maryland$56K+25%5,600
North Dakota$51K+13%100
California$50K+12%26,370
Minnesota$50K+12%530
Virginia$49K+10%1,660
Nebraska$48K+7%480
Washington$48K+7%1,220
Kentucky$48K+6%1,010
New York$47K+5%14,290
Massachusetts$47K+5%3,390
Texas$46K+3%13,960
Vermont$46K+3%80

Track teaching assistants, postsecondary salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.

Would this salary go further somewhere else?
Compare your purchasing power across cities
Compare →
How do you get into this field?
Education, licensing, and what the career path looks like
Read guide →

Related careers in Education

Frequently asked questions

How much do teaching assistants, postsecondarys make in California?

The median is $50,330 a year. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,940, and experienced teaching assistants, postsecondarys can clear $77,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $50K enough to live in California?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,431/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $2,201/month (median of metro areas), which eats 64.2% 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, postsecondary salary go in California?

California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median teaching assistants, postsecondary salary is worth about $50,330 in national-average purchasing power.

Where do teaching assistants, postsecondarys 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.

All careers in California
Top-paying jobs, rent, and cost of living
Location hub →