Teaching assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Teaching assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates teaching assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our teaching assistant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about teaching assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 121,643 teaching assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 57.6% of all teaching assistants are women, while 42.4% are men.
- The average teaching assistant age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of teaching assistants is White (54.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.5%), Asian (11.6%) and Black or African American (10.9%).
- In 2022, women earned 89% of what men earned.
- 6% of all teaching assistants are LGBT.
- Teaching assistants are 92% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Teaching assistant demographics by:
Teaching assistant gender statistics
57.6% of teaching assistants are women and 42.4% of teaching assistants are men.
- Female, 57.6%
- Male, 42.4%
Teaching assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 57.6% |
| Male | 42.4% |
Teaching assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 89¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$45,274
Female income
$40,354
Teaching assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in teaching assistant positions over time. Currently, 57.6% of teaching assistants are female.
Teaching assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 83.34% | 16.66% |
| 2011 | 83.63% | 16.37% |
| 2012 | 83.45% | 16.55% |
| 2013 | 83.21% | 16.79% |
| 2014 | 82.57% | 17.43% |
| 2015 | 83.05% | 16.95% |
| 2016 | 82.85% | 17.15% |
| 2017 | 83.19% | 16.81% |
| 2018 | 40.17% | 59.83% |
| 2019 | 41.82% | 58.18% |
| 2020 | 41.89% | 58.11% |
| 2021 | 42.45% | 57.55% |
Teaching assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared teaching assistants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, hvac/r instructor and assistant professor of air conditioning and refrigeration have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetics Instructor | 8% | 92% |
| Cosmetology Instructor | 9% | 91% |
| Adjunct Nursing Faculty | 9% | 91% |
| Teaching Assistant | 42% | 58% |
| Diesel Technology Instructor | 97% | 3% |
| Assistant Professor Of Air Conditioning And Refrigeration | 97% | 3% |
| Hvac/R Instructor | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Teaching assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among teaching assistants is White, which makes up 54.3% of all teaching assistants. Comparatively, 17.5% of teaching assistants are Hispanic or Latino and 11.6% of teaching assistants are Asian.
- White, 54.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.5%
- Asian, 11.6%
- Black or African American, 10.9%
- Unknown, 4.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
Teaching assistant race
| Teaching assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 54.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.5% |
| Asian | 11.6% |
| Black or African American | 10.9% |
| Unknown | 4.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.2% |
Teaching assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how teaching assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Teaching assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.11% | 6.28% | 15.20% | 6.98% |
| 2011 | 68.81% | 6.13% | 15.93% | 6.73% |
| 2012 | 68.40% | 6.42% | 15.80% | 6.97% |
| 2013 | 67.53% | 6.78% | 16.09% | 7.22% |
| 2014 | 67.62% | 6.41% | 15.75% | 7.61% |
| 2015 | 66.07% | 6.63% | 16.70% | 7.90% |
| 2016 | 66.57% | 6.56% | 16.43% | 7.79% |
| 2017 | 65.64% | 6.31% | 17.59% | 7.84% |
| 2018 | 57.55% | 11.28% | 11.19% | 16.64% |
| 2019 | 58.23% | 10.44% | 11.28% | 16.57% |
| 2020 | 55.57% | 10.69% | 11.68% | 16.90% |
| 2021 | 54.32% | 10.95% | 11.57% | 17.54% |
Teaching assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, asian teaching assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White teaching assistants have the lowest average salary at $42,676.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $44,239 |
| White | $42,676 |
| Black or African American | $46,608 |
| Asian | $47,721 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $45,299 |
Average teaching assistant age
See how the average age of teaching assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Teaching assistant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 39.5 | 46 |
| Unknown | 31 | 44 |
| Asian | 30 | 45 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 33 | 40 |
| White | 34 | 49 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 31.5 | 42 |
Teaching assistant age breakdown
The average age of teaching assistants is 40+ years years old, representing 62% of the teaching assistant population.
Teaching assistant age breakdown
| Teaching Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 62% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 18% |
Teaching assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for teaching assistants is bachelor's degree, with 70% of teaching assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 16% and master's degree degree at 5%.
- Bachelor's, 70%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 5%
- Doctorate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Teaching assistants by degree level
| Teaching assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 70% |
| Master's | 16% |
| Associate | 5% |
| Doctorate | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Teaching assistant jobs you might like
Teaching assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, teaching assistants with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $49,487 annually. With a Master's degree, teaching assistants earn a median annual income of $47,860 compared to $42,320 for teaching assistants with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $47,860 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $39,798 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $42,320 |
| Doctorate Degree | $49,487 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $40,571 |
Teaching assistant employment statistics
Most teaching assistants work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where teaching assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where teaching assistants work.
Teaching assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 9% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 12% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 55% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Teaching assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the teaching assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most teaching assistants prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
Teaching assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 92% |
| Public | 1% |
| Private | 6% |
| Government | 1% |
Teaching assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for teaching assistants are education, manufacturing and professional.
Teaching assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 86% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Professional | 2% |
| Government | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Teaching assistant turnover and employment statistics
Teaching assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for teaching assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Teaching assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Teaching assistant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.13% |
| 2011 | 3.11% |
| 2012 | 3.14% |
| 2013 | 3.31% |
| 2014 | 2.86% |
| 2015 | 2.61% |
| 2016 | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 2.51% |
| 2018 | 3.51% |
| 2019 | 3.20% |
| 2020 | 5.05% |
| 2021 | 5.11% |
Average teaching assistant tenure
The average teaching assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 145,047 teaching assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Teaching assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 45% |
| 1-2 years | 31% |
| 3-4 years | 9% |
| 5-7 years | 9% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 3% |
Teaching assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of teaching assistants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistant | 6.14% | - |
| 4th Grade Teacher | 9.52% | 68,138 |
| Reference Librarian | 10.75% | 1,058 |
| Special Educator | 11.12% | 62,545 |
| Environmental Education Specialist | 12.94% | 28,169 |
| Library Technician | 13.69% | 24,941 |
| Curriculum Specialist | 16.25% | 1,583 |
Similar teaching assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Grade Teacher | 9.52% | 68,138 |
| Reference Librarian | 10.75% | 1,058 |
| Special Educator | 11.12% | 62,545 |
| Environmental Education Specialist | 12.94% | 28,169 |
| Library Technician | 13.69% | 24,941 |
| Curriculum Specialist | 16.25% | 1,583 |
Foreign languages spoken by teaching assistants
The most common foreign language among teaching assistants is Spanish at 32.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 12.9% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 12.1%.
- Spanish, 32.7%
- French, 12.9%
- Chinese, 12.1%
- Mandarin, 9.5%
- German, 5.3%
- Other, 27.5%
Teaching assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 32.7% |
| French | 12.9% |
| Chinese | 12.1% |
| Mandarin | 9.5% |
| German | 5.3% |
| Other | 27.5% |
