Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary
In Washington, teaching assistants, postsecondaries earn $50,460 at the median. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $49,466 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 52.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Washington?
About teaching assistants, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for teaching assistants, postsecondary, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $43K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 51.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level teaching assistants, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary salary by metro in Washington
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $59K | +17% | 30 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $49K | -4% | 130 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $48K | -4% | 510 |
| Walla Walla | $47K | -6% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track teaching assistants, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a teaching assistants, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 51.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for teaching assistants, postsecondaries in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new teaching assistants, postsecondaries typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,079/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 88% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is teaching assistants, postsecondary a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $50K here vs. $43K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for teaching assistants, postsecondaries?
Washington pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do teaching assistants, postsecondaries make in Washington?
The median is $50,460 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,650, and experienced teaching assistants, postsecondaries can clear $64,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,549/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 51.6% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median teaching assistants, postsecondary salary is worth about $49,466 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do teaching assistants, 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.