Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has conducted comprehensive research to provide the latest insights into graduate teaching assistant salaries across the United States as of 2026:
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Pennsylvania leads the nation with an average graduate teaching assistant salary of $62,098.
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Hawaii has the lowest average graduate teaching assistant salary at $31,871.
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The national average salary for graduate teaching assistants is $44,994.
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The national hourly pay for graduate teaching assistants is $21.63.
For more details, you can review the specific methodology.
Background
In 2026, the importance of salary remains paramount for job seekers across demographics, particularly for roles such as graduate teaching assistants. Understanding local salary ranges is vital for prospective candidates.
While specific salaries may vary by city, the state averages provide a useful benchmark for what you can expect in terms of compensation.
As per our findings, Pennsylvania stands out as the top-paying state for graduate teaching assistants.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for graduate teaching assistant salaries:
Let’s explore how we arrived at these figures and provide a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Graduate Teaching Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Graduate Teaching Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $62,098 | $37,000 | $102,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $61,100 | $38,000 | $97,000 |
| 3 | Maryland | $58,680 | $35,000 | $96,000 |
| 4 | Maine | $57,165 | $36,000 | $89,000 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $55,924 | $34,000 | $90,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $55,200 | $33,000 | $90,000 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $54,478 | $33,000 | $87,000 |
| 8 | Indiana | $54,435 | $33,000 | $88,000 |
| 9 | New York | $50,513 | $30,000 | $82,000 |
| 10 | Michigan | $50,343 | $30,000 | $81,000 |
| 11 | Ohio | $50,284 | $30,000 | $82,000 |
| 12 | Illinois | $48,902 | $30,000 | $79,000 |
| 13 | Alabama | $48,176 | $28,000 | $80,000 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $46,681 | $29,000 | $74,000 |
| 15 | Delaware | $46,067 | $27,000 | $76,000 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $45,817 | $28,000 | $73,000 |
| 17 | Virginia | $44,917 | $26,000 | $74,000 |
| 18 | Colorado | $44,297 | $28,000 | $69,000 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $44,219 | $27,000 | $70,000 |
| 20 | Vermont | $43,937 | $27,000 | $69,000 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $43,796 | $26,000 | $73,000 |
| 22 | Kansas | $43,311 | $27,000 | $69,000 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $42,940 | $25,000 | $70,000 |
| 24 | Idaho | $42,871 | $27,000 | $67,000 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $42,809 | $25,000 | $71,000 |
| 26 | Oregon | $42,041 | $25,000 | $68,000 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $41,686 | $26,000 | $65,000 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $41,162 | $24,000 | $70,000 |
| 29 | California | $40,892 | $24,000 | $68,000 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $40,747 | $24,000 | $68,000 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $40,683 | $24,000 | $66,000 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $40,293 | $24,000 | $66,000 |
| 33 | Texas | $40,188 | $23,000 | $67,000 |
| 34 | Washington | $39,352 | $24,000 | $63,000 |
| 35 | Georgia | $39,163 | $23,000 | $65,000 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $39,114 | $23,000 | $64,000 |
| 37 | Missouri | $39,063 | $24,000 | $62,000 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $38,616 | $25,000 | $59,000 |
| 39 | Nevada | $37,908 | $23,000 | $62,000 |
| 40 | Utah | $37,641 | $24,000 | $58,000 |
| 41 | Iowa | $37,521 | $23,000 | $59,000 |
| 42 | Montana | $37,326 | $24,000 | $56,000 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $37,133 | $22,000 | $60,000 |
| 44 | Florida | $36,823 | $21,000 | $64,000 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $36,082 | $23,000 | $55,000 |
| 46 | Arizona | $35,921 | $21,000 | $58,000 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $35,101 | $21,000 | $57,000 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $34,900 | $22,000 | $54,000 |
| 49 | Alaska | $33,475 | $20,000 | $54,000 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $31,871 | $19,000 | $53,000 |
Methodology: Graduate Teaching Assistant Salary By State
To analyze graduate teaching assistant salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We also incorporate data from current job listings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to determine the average salary for graduate teaching assistants in each state.
By ranking the average annual salaries, we provide a clear picture of the best-paying states for graduate teaching assistants in 2026.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for graduate teaching assistants?
The highest-paid state for graduate teaching assistants is Pennsylvania, with an average salary of $62,098 per year.
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What city pays graduate teaching assistants the most?
Terre Haute, IN offers the highest average salary for graduate teaching assistants at $52,750 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for graduate teaching assistants?
The state with the lowest average salary for graduate teaching assistants is Hawaii, where the average is $31,871 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.
