How To Become A Work-Study Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a work-study assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A work-study assistant works part-time while attending college or university. They assist with various tasks around campus, including administrative work, research, tutoring, and event planning. Work-study assistants are typically paid hourly and have a maximum number of hours they can work per week. They are often assigned to a specific department or office and work closely with school staff members.

ScoreWork-Study AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.0

Avg. Salary $25,211

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.82%

Black or African American 9.22%

Hispanic or Latino 16.15%

Unknown 3.87%

White 66.21%

Gender

female 63.10%

male 36.90%

Age - 52

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 - 52

Stress level

6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.4

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a work-study assistant?

Pros

Flexible hours to accommodate class schedule
Usually paid higher than minimum wage
Chance for future employment with the organization
Access to resources and facilities on campus
May receive academic credit for work-study

Cons

Limited job opportunities available on campus
May be required to work odd hours or weekends
Not guaranteed job placement each semester
May not receive enough pay to cover all expenses
May be difficult to find a job that aligns with specific interests or skills

Key steps to become a work-study assistant

Explore work-study assistant education requirements

Most common work-study assistant degrees

Bachelor's

44.0 %

Associate

29.7 %

High School Diploma

16.1 %

Start to develop specific work-study assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Financial Aid	22.97%
Data Entry	14.59%
Customer Service	13.40%
PowerPoint	4.81%
Front Desk	4.60%

Complete relevant work-study assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New work-study assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a work-study assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real work-study assistant resumes.

Gain additional work-study assistant certifications

Work-study assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific work-study assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for work-study assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research work-study assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
Create metal screens for the expo center windows.
Operate multi-line phones, fax machine, copier.
Disperse all checks administer to the SPC community.

Prepare your work-study assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your work-study 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 work-study 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 work-study assistant resume templates

Build a professional work-study 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 work-study assistant resume.