Highest-Paying Teaching Assistant Jobs [2023]

Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of teaching assistants that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.

Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of teaching assistants:

• Adjunct Faculty is the highest-paid type of teaching assistant with an average salary of $83,069 and an average hourly rate of $39.94.

• The second highest-paying type of teaching assistant is adjunct lecturer, with an average salary of $79,657.

• The average teaching assistant salary is $36,519 per year, and the average hourly pay is $17.56.

Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs

Background

Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a teaching assistant, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of teaching assistants are so that you can plan your career progression.

Here are the top salaries for different types of teaching assistants:

1. Adjunct Faculty

   Average Salary: $83,069

   Adjunct faculty is the collective term for adjunct professors or lecturers. The adjunct faculty teaches students based on the limited-term of their contract. Oftentimes, they teach preparatory or introductory courses by semester arrangement for the entire academic year. Most of them are employed in higher education. Unlike regular professors, adjunct faculty do not have benefits and are not required to be present in meetings. They can work as either a contract professor or a part-time professor.

2. Adjunct Lecturer

   Average Salary: $79,657

   An Adjunct Lecturer is responsible for teaching college classes. They prepare course guides, teach content that matches courses standards, and assist students with inquiries outside of class.

3. Teaching Artist

   Average Salary: $66,565

   A Teaching Artist is responsible for teaching knowledge and skills in art, including drawing, painting, lettering, and art history. They also develop, submit, and implement lesson plans.

4. Faculty Assistant

   Average Salary: $63,373

   Faculty assistants, also known as teaching assistants, aid the primary instructor of an institution. They help the primary instructor map out learning strategies, prepare teaching aids, and distribute handouts. They also give feedback, evaluate learning plans, and assess students’ progress. Faculty assistants must be organized, know basic first aid, be resourceful, be team-oriented, be able to multitask, and have a significant level of patience.

5. Lecturer

   Average Salary: $61,988

   A lecturer, also known as a university lecturer, is a teaching professional who teaches students in colleges and educational establishments. Lecturers provide support to students in their research activities by assessing their work and through a pastoral and advisory role. Aside from teaching students, lecturers may carry out administrative tasks such as student enrolment, induction programmers, and involvement in committees and boards. They may also contribute to professional seminars and seminars about their expertise and participate in the training activities of staff members.

Below is a full table of the average pay for various teaching assistant that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Teaching Assistants

Methodology

Zippia uses publicly published 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 create its salary estimates.

Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for teaching assistants.

Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Teaching Assistant Jobs FAQs

1. What is the highest-paid teaching assistant job?

   The highest-paid teaching assistant job is an adjunct faculty. Adjunct Faculties earn an average salary of $83,069, which is $ 39.94 hourly.

   Adjunct faculty is the collective term for adjunct professors or lecturers. The adjunct faculty teaches students based on the limited-term of their contract. Oftentimes, they teach preparatory or introductory courses by semester arrangement for the entire academic year. Most of them are employed in higher education. Unlike regular professors, adjunct faculty do not have benefits and are not required to be present in meetings. They can work as either a contract professor or a part-time professor.

2. What is a good salary for a teaching assistant?

   A good salary for a teaching assistant is $36,519 or more. The average teaching assistant salary is $36,519, so those making at least $36,519 are earning above-average paychecks.

   Keep in mind, however, that the average teaching assistant salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.

   In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a teaching assistant, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $36,519 average, as this includes all teaching assistants of all skill and experience levels.

3. Do Teaching Assistant jobs pay well?

   No, teaching assistant jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some teaching assistant jobs pay better than others, but the average teaching assistant salary of $36,519 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.

   In addition to this, many teaching assistant jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of teaching assistants earning $0 a year on average.

   Teaching Assistants’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a teaching assistant. Do your research on the going rate for a teaching assistant in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.

4. Where do teaching assistants get paid the most?

   Teaching Assistants get paid the most in Connecticut. In Connecticut, teaching assistants earn an average annual salary of $45,018 and an average hourly wage of $21.64.

   Following CT, the states with the highest-paid teaching assistants are Maryland, Maine, and Pennsylvania, with average annual salaries of $47,031, $46,155, and $49,857 respectively.

   The cities with the highest-paid teaching assistant salaries are:

   1. Philadelphia, PA – $50,218

   2. Needham, MA – $49,448

   3. Baltimore, MD – $47,246

Author

Chris Kolmar

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.