Research Summary. In a comprehensive analysis conducted by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest insights into teacher assistant salaries across the United States as of 2026:
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Rhode Island offers the highest teacher assistant salary at $32,032.
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South Carolina has the lowest average teacher assistant salary at $20,665.
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The national average salary for teacher assistants is $27,103.
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The national hourly wage for teacher assistants stands at $13.03.
For further details, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently reveal that for many individuals, salary remains the most crucial factor when considering employment opportunities. Most people want to know: how much do teacher assistants earn in their area?
While various factors influence your specific salary, robust data exists regarding average teacher assistant salaries by state, segmented by seniority and experience level. Though local averages may differ slightly from state averages, these figures provide a solid baseline for what you can expect in terms of compensation.
The state offering the highest salary for teacher assistants, following adjustments, remains Rhode Island.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for teacher assistant salaries:
Let’s dive deeper into how we compiled this information and examine a complete ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Teacher Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Teacher Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $32,032 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 2 | Maine | $30,922 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $30,882 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $30,818 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 5 | California | $29,753 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 6 | Vermont | $29,733 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $28,934 | $25,000 | $32,000 |
| 8 | Montana | $28,390 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $28,347 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 10 | New York | $28,170 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $27,986 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $27,801 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 13 | Maryland | $27,787 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $27,633 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 15 | Illinois | $27,602 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $27,598 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 17 | Utah | $27,498 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $27,339 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 19 | Ohio | $27,039 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $26,886 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $26,866 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 22 | Colorado | $26,620 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $26,267 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $26,216 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 25 | Oregon | $25,928 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $25,693 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $25,666 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 28 | Arizona | $25,652 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $25,648 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 30 | Alaska | $25,645 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 31 | Nevada | $25,127 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
| 32 | Delaware | $24,842 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $24,667 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
| 34 | Michigan | $24,220 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 35 | Texas | $24,112 | $19,000 | $30,000 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $24,016 | $19,000 | $30,000 |
| 37 | Florida | $23,839 | $19,000 | $29,000 |
| 38 | Alabama | $23,568 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $23,445 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
| 40 | Iowa | $23,331 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
| 41 | Idaho | $23,307 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
| 42 | Missouri | $23,262 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $23,094 | $18,000 | $28,000 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $22,731 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
| 45 | Virginia | $22,636 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
| 46 | Kansas | $22,493 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $22,289 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
| 48 | Georgia | $21,751 | $17,000 | $27,000 |
| 49 | Indiana | $21,545 | $16,000 | $27,000 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $20,665 | $16,000 | $25,000 |
Methodology: Teacher Assistant Salary By State
To analyze teacher assistant compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is further supplemented by actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to derive the average pay for teacher assistants by state.
Using these estimates, we ranked each state according to its average annual salary for teacher assistants, highlighting the state with the highest salary as the top-ranking state.
Teacher Assistant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for teacher assistants?
The highest-paid state for teacher assistants is Rhode Island, with an average salary of $32,032 per year.
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What city pays teacher assistants the most?
Coventry, RI offers the highest average salary for teacher assistants at $31,927 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for teacher assistants?
The lowest-paying state for teacher assistants is South Carolina, with an average salary of $20,665 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.
