Research Summary. Comprehensive research conducted by the Zippia data science team has revealed the latest teaching assistant salary trends across the United States for 2026:
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Pennsylvania ranks first with the highest teaching assistant salary at $49,857.
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Utah has the lowest average salary for teaching assistants at $26,512.
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The national average salary for teaching assistants is $36,519.
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The national hourly wage for teaching assistants is $17.56.
For more details, refer to the specific methodology.
Background
Across various demographics, salary remains the most significant factor in job satisfaction. Many individuals inquire, “How much do teaching assistants earn in my area?”
While your specific earnings may vary based on numerous factors, robust data exists for average teaching assistant salaries by state, categorized by experience level. Thus, although local averages may differ slightly, these figures provide a reliable benchmark for your expected salary.
Currently, Pennsylvania offers the best compensation for teaching assistants after adjustments.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for teaching assistant salaries in 2026:
Let’s examine how we arrived at these statistics and provide a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Teaching Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Teaching Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $49,857 | $30,000 | $81,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $49,414 | $31,000 | $76,000 |
| 3 | Maryland | $47,031 | $28,000 | $77,000 |
| 4 | Maine | $46,155 | $30,000 | $68,000 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $45,018 | $28,000 | $71,000 |
| 6 | New York | $44,789 | $27,000 | $72,000 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $44,689 | $28,000 | $70,000 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $44,333 | $27,000 | $71,000 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $42,570 | $24,000 | $72,000 |
| 10 | Michigan | $40,712 | $25,000 | $64,000 |
| 11 | Ohio | $40,267 | $24,000 | $65,000 |
| 12 | Illinois | $39,759 | $25,000 | $62,000 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $37,680 | $24,000 | $57,000 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $37,037 | $23,000 | $58,000 |
| 15 | Delaware | $36,891 | $22,000 | $60,000 |
| 16 | Virginia | $36,876 | $21,000 | $62,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $36,627 | $24,000 | $55,000 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $36,611 | $22,000 | $60,000 |
| 19 | Idaho | $35,973 | $24,000 | $52,000 |
| 20 | Vermont | $35,690 | $23,000 | $53,000 |
| 21 | California | $35,654 | $21,000 | $59,000 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $34,747 | $23,000 | $52,000 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $34,078 | $20,000 | $56,000 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $33,326 | $19,000 | $56,000 |
| 25 | Alabama | $33,068 | $19,000 | $56,000 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $32,866 | $19,000 | $56,000 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $32,775 | $22,000 | $48,000 |
| 28 | Washington | $32,683 | $22,000 | $47,000 |
| 29 | Indiana | $32,313 | $20,000 | $52,000 |
| 30 | Montana | $31,831 | $22,000 | $45,000 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $31,709 | $20,000 | $48,000 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $31,569 | $19,000 | $52,000 |
| 33 | Missouri | $31,393 | $19,000 | $49,000 |
| 34 | Texas | $31,076 | $17,000 | $54,000 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $30,987 | $18,000 | $51,000 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $30,948 | $18,000 | $51,000 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $30,852 | $17,000 | $54,000 |
| 38 | Iowa | $30,636 | $19,000 | $47,000 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $30,325 | $20,000 | $44,000 |
| 40 | Georgia | $30,236 | $17,000 | $51,000 |
| 41 | Nevada | $29,994 | $18,000 | $48,000 |
| 42 | Colorado | $29,767 | $19,000 | $45,000 |
| 43 | Oregon | $29,220 | $19,000 | $43,000 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $28,427 | $17,000 | $46,000 |
| 45 | Arizona | $28,321 | $16,000 | $47,000 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $28,299 | $16,000 | $47,000 |
| 47 | Florida | $27,964 | $15,000 | $51,000 |
| 48 | Kansas | $27,728 | $17,000 | $43,000 |
| 49 | Alaska | $27,442 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 50 | Utah | $26,512 | $17,000 | $40,000 |
Methodology: Teaching Assistant Salary By State
To gain insights into teaching assistant salaries by state, Zippia aggregated data from various sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data was supplemented with actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then calculated a weighted average to determine the average pay for teaching assistants by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data of teaching assistants derived from these estimates, identifying the state with the highest average salary as the top-ranking state.
Teaching Assistant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for teaching assistants?
The highest-paid state for teaching assistants is Pennsylvania with an average salary of $49,857 per year.
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What city pays teaching assistants the most?
Philadelphia, PA offers the highest average salary for teaching assistants at $50,218 per year.
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What is the worst state for teaching assistants?
Utah ranks as the lowest-paying state for teaching assistants, averaging $26,512 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
