Research Summary. By leveraging a combination of public government data and insights from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has developed average salary estimates for various jobs across the United States. This data set has allowed us to identify the highest-paying roles for teacher assistants based on their average annual salaries.
Here’s a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of teacher assistants:
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ESL Teacher ranks as the highest-paid type of teacher assistant, with an average salary of $56,500 and an average hourly rate of $27.14.
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The second highest-paying type of teacher assistant is teacher, with an average salary of $52,000.
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The average teacher assistant salary now stands at $30,000 per year, with an average hourly rate of $14.42.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be challenging, and while salary isn’t the only factor to consider, it plays a significant role in decision-making. If you’re aspiring to work as a teacher assistant, understanding the highest-paying roles can help you strategize your career advancement.
Here are the top salaries for various types of teacher assistants:
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ESL Teacher
Average Salary: $56,500
An ESL teacher specializes in teaching English to non-native speakers of all ages, often in a virtual setting. Responsibilities include creating lesson plans, organizing educational materials, evaluating student progress, and fostering a comfortable learning environment. In the context of virtual learning, ESL teachers need reliable technology and a distraction-free teaching space.
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Teacher
Average Salary: $52,000
Teachers play a critical role in shaping the future of students. They educate, motivate, and guide learners through various stages of their academic journeys. Each teacher brings a unique style to their teaching, adapting methods to suit their subject matter and student age groups. Beyond teaching, they often take on roles such as counselor, mentor, and advocate for their students.
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Teacher/Tutor
Average Salary: $46,500
A teacher/tutor facilitates discussions and learning activities, focusing on developing lesson plans and evaluating student performance. They help students with challenges and enhance their interpersonal skills while ensuring a safe learning environment.
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Pre-K Teacher
Average Salary: $42,000
Pre-K teachers nurture children’s interests in age-appropriate subjects, fostering a creative learning environment that promotes social interactions. They prepare children for kindergarten by overseeing their daily activities and reinforcing essential skills.
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Teacher Associate
Average Salary: $36,000
A teacher associate assists the lead teacher, developing educational materials and monitoring students’ progress. They may also assume teaching responsibilities in the absence of the lead teacher.
Below is a comprehensive table of the average pay for various teacher assistant roles, followed by a detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Teacher Assistants
Methodology
The Zippia team utilizes publicly available information from government sources, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to produce salary estimates.
Our data science team also reviews job postings and company-released resources to gather the most current salary information for teacher assistants.
After compiling the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title in terms of salary estimation. For further details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Teacher Assistant Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid teacher assistant job?
The highest-paid teacher assistant job is an ESL teacher. ESL Teachers earn an average salary of $56,500, which is $27.14 an hour.
ESL teachers focus on teaching the English language to non-native speakers across different age groups, primarily in virtual environments. Their roles include lesson planning, material organization, progress evaluation, and creating a supportive learning atmosphere.
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What is a good salary for a teacher assistant?
A good salary for a teacher assistant is $30,000 or more. The average teacher assistant salary is now $30,000, so those earning at least that amount are above the average pay rates.
It’s important to note that salaries can vary based on location, as companies adjust their pay scales according to local living costs. Research the average salary in your area for your expertise and experience level to gain a clearer picture of your compensation.
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Do Teacher Assistant jobs pay well?
Generally, Teacher Assistant jobs do not pay well. While some positions offer better compensation than others, the average salary of $30,000 is lower than the average national salary of approximately $50,000 per year.
However, many teacher assistant roles have high earning potential, with the top 10% of teacher assistants earning significantly more.
Salaries for Teacher Assistants will vary based on factors such as experience, industry, and location, so it’s essential to research the market rates and negotiate accordingly.
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Where do teacher assistants get paid the most?
Teacher Assistants earn the highest salaries in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, teacher assistants make an average annual salary of $34,000 and an average hourly wage of $16.35.
Following Massachusetts, states with the highest-paying teacher assistant roles include New York, California, and Connecticut, with average annual salaries of $33,200, $32,500, and $31,000 respectively.
The cities with the highest teacher assistant salaries are:
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Boston, MA – $36,500
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Los Angeles, CA – $34,000
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New York, NY – $33,800
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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.
