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What is a graduate assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

A graduate assistant works on a part-time basis and receives a salary or a tuition waver in exchange for taking on different university-related jobs at their department.

They assist professors in doing the legwork for their academic research, carrying out administrative tasks, or organizing student events on campus. They might assist a professor in designing classes or teaching or help a coach running an athletic team.

Being a graduate assistant is an excellent opportunity for students to gain professional experience in their academic field and increase their options for employment in the future, as long as they manage their time well and find a way to work around their studies.

ScoreGraduate AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $31,704

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
3.7

Growth rate 20%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.11%

Asian 11.04%

Black or African American 11.13%

Hispanic or Latino 17.78%

Unknown 4.55%

White 54.40%

Gender

female 57.11%

male 42.89%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress level
3.7

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.0

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Graduate assistant career paths

Key steps to become a graduate assistant

  1. Explore graduate assistant education requirements

    Most common graduate assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    74.2 %

    Master's

    21.3 %

    Associate

    2.1 %

  2. Start to develop specific graduate assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Computer Lab7.18%
    Undergraduate Courses6.28%
    Research Projects6.10%
    Student Athletes4.99%
    Data Collection4.94%
    Show more

  3. Research graduate assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Lead a number of introductory and advance philosophy lecture courses under close faculty supervision.
    • Manage graduate program twitter handle @ comugrad and assist in developing and implementing engagement strategies.
    • Develop and manage syllabus material; evaluate students' performance relative to standardize learning objectives.
    • Collaborate with professors to accomplish academic educations through fulfilling academic instruction tasks in blackboard system and other academic activities.

  4. Prepare your graduate assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your graduate assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a graduate assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable graduate assistant resume templates

    Build a professional graduate assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your graduate assistant resume.
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    Graduate Assistant Resume

  5. Apply for graduate assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a graduate assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first graduate assistant job

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Average graduate assistant salary

The average graduate assistant salary in the United States is $31,704 per year or $15 per hour. Graduate assistant salaries range between $11,000 and $85,000 per year.

Average graduate assistant salary
$31,704 Yearly
$15.24 hourly
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Graduate assistant FAQs

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

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Graduate assistant jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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