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Student assistant salary
Average student assistant salary
$12.23
Average Student Assistant Salary
The average salary for a student assistant in the United States is approximately $25,439 per year, translating to about $12.23 per hour. However, this can vary significantly based on factors like geographic location, institution type, and level of experience. For instance, student assistants in urban areas often earn more due to higher living costs.
Where Can a Student Assistant Earn More?
States such as California and New York typically offer higher wages for student assistants, reflecting the higher cost of living. Additionally, some institutions may pay more based on the specific responsibilities of the assistant role, such as research, administrative support, or tutoring. Overall, as students gain more experience and take on additional responsibilities, their earning potential can increase significantly.
Salary Estimates from Across the Web
Salary estimates from various job boards show that while the average falls around $25,439, some student assistants report earnings closer to $30,000 annually, especially in specialized roles or high-demand fields. As students explore job opportunities, it's beneficial to consider both the financial and experiential gains when selecting a position.
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Where can a Student Assistant earn more?
Student assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average student assistant salary by state
The average student assistant salary in Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average student assistant salary states are Idaho, Kansas, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for student assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $29,519 | $14.19 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $28,869 | $13.88 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $28,716 | $13.81 |
| 4 | New York | $28,716 | $13.81 |
| 5 | Arizona | $26,291 | $12.64 |
| 6 | Montana | $26,116 | $12.56 |
| 7 | Vermont | $26,351 | $12.67 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $26,095 | $12.55 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $26,522 | $12.75 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $26,768 | $12.87 |
| 11 | Colorado | $26,205 | $12.60 |
| 12 | Maine | $27,407 | $13.18 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $25,479 | $12.25 |
| 14 | Ohio | $25,567 | $12.29 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $28,140 | $13.53 |
| 16 | Maryland | $27,203 | $13.08 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $24,504 | $11.78 |
| 18 | Washington | $27,640 | $13.29 |
| 19 | Michigan | $24,500 | $11.78 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $24,847 | $11.95 |
| 21 | Georgia | $26,617 | $12.80 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $24,127 | $11.60 |
| 23 | California | $28,706 | $13.80 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $25,151 | $12.09 |
| 25 | Nevada | $22,898 | $11.01 |
| 26 | Delaware | $24,012 | $11.54 |
| 27 | Utah | $25,053 | $12.04 |
| 28 | Alaska | $22,653 | $10.89 |
| 29 | Illinois | $23,580 | $11.34 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $23,296 | $11.20 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $23,443 | $11.27 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $23,860 | $11.47 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $27,307 | $13.13 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $23,630 | $11.36 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $21,979 | $10.57 |
| 36 | Iowa | $21,884 | $10.52 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $22,896 | $11.01 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $20,619 | $9.91 |
| 39 | Idaho | $21,140 | $10.16 |
| 40 | Florida | $21,882 | $10.52 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $21,794 | $10.48 |
| 42 | Missouri | $21,978 | $10.57 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $21,928 | $10.54 |
| 44 | Virginia | $22,997 | $11.06 |
| 45 | Texas | $22,074 | $10.61 |
| 46 | Kansas | $20,963 | $10.08 |
| 47 | Indiana | $20,674 | $9.94 |
| 48 | Oregon | $23,093 | $11.10 |
| 49 | District of Columbia | $23,410 | $11.25 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $20,530 | $9.87 |
| 51 | Alabama | $20,482 | $9.85 |
Highest paying cities for student assistants
The highest-paying cities for student assistants are Albany, NY, Hoboken, NJ, and Santa Barbara, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany, NY | $29,037 | $13.96 |
| 2 | Hoboken, NJ | $28,929 | $13.91 |
| 3 | Santa Barbara, CA | $28,886 | $13.89 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $28,761 | $13.83 |
| 5 | Tacoma, WA | $27,681 | $13.31 |
| 6 | Prescott, AZ | $26,218 | $12.60 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $26,162 | $12.58 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $25,457 | $12.24 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $24,542 | $11.80 |
| 10 | Joliet, IL | $23,576 | $11.33 |
| 11 | Virginia Beach, VA | $23,029 | $11.07 |
| 12 | Juneau, AK | $22,689 | $10.91 |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $22,282 | $10.71 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $21,953 | $10.55 |
| 15 | Boca Raton, FL | $21,937 | $10.55 |
| 16 | Greenville, NC | $21,908 | $10.53 |
| 17 | Lawrence, KS | $20,938 | $10.07 |
| 18 | Cheyenne, WY | $20,655 | $9.93 |
| 19 | Terre Haute, IN | $20,651 | $9.93 |
Student Assistants are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Student assistant salary details
A student assistant's salary ranges from $17,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a student assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| Average | $25,439 | $2,120 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $20,000 | $1,667 | $10 |
| 10th Percentile | $17,000 | $1,417 | $8 |
Highest paying student assistant jobs
The highest paying types of student assistants are advising assistant, assistant, and graduate student assistant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Employee | $24,086 | $2,007 | $11.58 | 12,497 |
| Student Worker | $25,735 | $2,145 | $12.37 | 82,353 |
| Student Internship | $31,256 | $2,605 | $15.03 | 55,578 |
| Student Technician | $28,926 | $2,410 | $13.91 | 82,671 |
| Student Ambassador | $25,836 | $2,153 | $12.42 | 19,462 |
Top companies hiring student assistants now:
Which companies pay student assistants the most?
Student assistant salaries at Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research and Brookhaven National Laboratory are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average student assistant salary at companies like Pace University and Columbia University in the City of New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research | $78,888 | $37.93 |
| 2 | Brookhaven National Laboratory | $73,531 | $35.35 |
| 3 | Pace University | $55,463 | $26.66 |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $45,914 | $22.07 |
| 5 | UC Merced | $41,131 | $19.77 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $40,609 | $19.52 |
| 7 | San Francisco University High School | $35,291 | $16.97 |
| 8 | UC Santa Barbara | $34,556 | $16.61 |
| 9 | State Bar of Michigan | $33,881 | $16.29 |
| 10 | University of Washington | $33,616 | $16.16 |
| 11 | National Park Foundation | $33,375 | $16.05 |
| 12 | John Wiley & Sons | $33,092 | $15.91 |
| 13 | Dallas College | $32,099 | $15.43 |
| 14 | Greenfield Union School District | $32,094 | $15.43 |
| 15 | University of California | $32,017 | $15.39 |
| 16 | Oregon Health & Science University | $31,887 | $15.33 |
| 17 | Target | $31,731 | $15.26 |
| 18 | Lawndale Elementary School District | $31,610 | $15.20 |
| 19 | New York State Restaurant Association | $31,283 | $15.04 |
| 20 | Covenant College | $31,263 | $15.03 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Student assistant salary trends
The average student assistant salary has risen by $4,669 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average student assistant earned $20,770 annually, but today, they earn $25,439 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for student assistants over the last decade.
Compare student assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average student assistant salary over time
Compare student assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Student assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,400 | $12.23 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $24,600 | $11.81 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $23,800 | $11.42 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $23,100 | $11.12 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $22,400 | $10.76 | +2.0% |
Recently added student assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita State University | Niar Atlas Student Assistant | Wichita, KS | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| Lewis & Clark College | Student Engagement Student Assistant | Portland, OR | 06/28/2025 | $34,018 |
| The University of Alabama | Undergraduate Student Assistant-Supply Store Tide Tech | Tuscaloosa, AL | 06/28/2025 | $18,783 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Student Assistant-Academic Success Center-Supplemental Instruction Leader(Fall 2025) | Statesboro, GA | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Jacksonville State University | University Student Assistant-Academic Support & Success Peer Learning Coach (PLC)-(Fall 2025-S | Jacksonville, AL | 06/28/2025 | $20,870 |
| Dallas College | S01-Student Assistant-Non Work Study-Local Funds | Dallas, TX | 06/28/2025 | $46,039 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Student Assistant-Grad School | Cove, UT | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Junior Achievement of South Florida | Student Engagement Assistant | Coconut Creek, FL | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| CSU Careers | Admissions Operations, Processing-Student Assistant | San Bernardino, CA | 06/27/2025 | $34,436 |
| Auburn University | Student Assistant-Circulation | Auburn, AL | 06/27/2025 | $18,783 |
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