Student Assistant Salary By State: Highest-Paid Student Assistants by State [2026]
Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest details on student assistant salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Rhode Island leads the nation with the highest student assistant salary at $29,519.
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Alabama has the lowest student assistant salary, averaging $20,482.
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The national average salary for student assistants stands at $25,439.
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The national hourly wage for student assistants is $12.23.
For more insights, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
In surveys across various demographics, salary remains the most crucial factor for many job seekers, particularly for student assistants. Understanding how much you can expect to earn in your area is essential for making informed career choices.
While your local salary may vary slightly from state averages, these statistics provide a solid foundation for understanding potential earnings. The state offering the highest salary for student assistants, adjusted for various factors, is Rhode Island.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for student assistant salaries:
Now, let’s delve into the details and present a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Student Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Student Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $29,519 | $20,000 | $41,000 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $28,869 | $19,000 | $41,000 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $28,716 | $19,000 | $41,000 |
| 4 | New York | $28,716 | $19,000 | $41,000 |
| 5 | California | $28,706 | $18,000 | $43,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $28,140 | $20,000 | $38,000 |
| 7 | Washington | $27,640 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 8 | Maine | $27,407 | $22,000 | $33,000 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $27,307 | $23,000 | $32,000 |
| 10 | Maryland | $27,203 | $18,000 | $39,000 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $26,768 | $18,000 | $39,000 |
| 12 | Georgia | $26,617 | $17,000 | $40,000 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $26,522 | $17,000 | $40,000 |
| 14 | Vermont | $26,351 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 15 | Arizona | $26,291 | $16,000 | $40,000 |
| 16 | Colorado | $26,205 | $18,000 | $37,000 |
| 17 | Montana | $26,116 | $19,000 | $34,000 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $26,095 | $18,000 | $37,000 |
| 19 | Ohio | $25,567 | $18,000 | $35,000 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $25,479 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $25,151 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| 22 | Utah | $25,053 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $24,847 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $24,504 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 25 | Michigan | $24,500 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $24,127 | $15,000 | $37,000 |
| 27 | Delaware | $24,012 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $23,860 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $23,630 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 30 | Illinois | $23,580 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $23,443 | $15,000 | $35,000 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $23,296 | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| 33 | Oregon | $23,093 | $16,000 | $31,000 |
| 34 | Virginia | $22,997 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 35 | Nevada | $22,898 | $15,000 | $34,000 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $22,896 | $14,000 | $36,000 |
| 37 | Alaska | $22,653 | $20,000 | $24,000 |
| 38 | Texas | $22,074 | $13,000 | $34,000 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $21,979 | $14,000 | $33,000 |
| 40 | Missouri | $21,978 | $15,000 | $31,000 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $21,928 | $15,000 | $31,000 |
| 42 | Iowa | $21,884 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| 43 | Florida | $21,882 | $13,000 | $35,000 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $21,794 | $14,000 | $32,000 |
| 45 | Idaho | $21,140 | $15,000 | $29,000 |
| 46 | Kansas | $20,963 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 47 | Indiana | $20,674 | $14,000 | $28,000 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $20,619 | $14,000 | $28,000 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $20,530 | $13,000 | $31,000 |
| 50 | Alabama | $20,482 | $13,000 | $31,000 |
Methodology: Student Assistant Salary By State
To accurately assess student assistant pay by state, Zippia collected data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is supplemented with actual salaries from recent job listings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to determine the average pay for student assistants by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data, identifying the state with the highest salary as the top-ranked for student assistants.
Student Assistant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for student assistants?
The highest-paid state for student assistants is Rhode Island, with an average salary of $29,519 per year.
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What city pays student assistants the most?
Albany, NY offers the highest average salary for student assistants at $29,037 annually.
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What is the worst state for student assistants?
The lowest-paying state for student assistants is Alabama, with an average salary of $20,482 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.
