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The role of a Work-Study Assistant is essential for many students seeking to balance academics and financial responsibilities. As of October 2025, the average salary for a Work-Study Assistant is approximately $25,211 per year, equating to about $12 per hour. However, salaries can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and specific job responsibilities.
Average Salaries by State
Work-Study Assistants may find higher salaries in metropolitan areas where living costs are elevated. For instance, states such as California and New York often provide competitive compensation due to the higher demand for student support roles. It’s important to explore salary ranges within each state to find the best opportunities.
Impact of Experience
Experience level plays a significant role in salary determination. Entry-level Work-Study Assistants typically earn less than those with several years of experience. For example, an assistant with two to three years of experience may earn around $15 per hour, reflecting the increased responsibilities and skills developed over time.
Conclusion
Understanding the compensation landscape for Work-Study Assistants can help students make informed decisions about their career paths and financial planning. With the right information, aspiring assistants can find rewarding positions that support their educational pursuits.
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The highest-paying states for work-study assistants are California, Hawaii, and Colorado. The lowest average work-study assistant salary states are Oklahoma, West Virginia, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $31,098 | $14.95 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $29,954 | $14.40 |
| 3 | California | $32,482 | $15.62 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $32,599 | $15.67 |
| 5 | New York | $29,179 | $14.03 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $31,954 | $15.36 |
| 7 | Michigan | $27,096 | $13.03 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $27,008 | $12.98 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $28,562 | $13.73 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $28,406 | $13.66 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $30,026 | $14.44 |
| 12 | Ohio | $26,069 | $12.53 |
| 13 | Vermont | $29,373 | $14.12 |
| 14 | Oregon | $27,574 | $13.26 |
| 15 | Arizona | $25,801 | $12.40 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $28,203 | $13.56 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $27,337 | $13.14 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $27,222 | $13.09 |
| 19 | Indiana | $24,986 | $12.01 |
| 20 | Texas | $24,789 | $11.92 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $25,799 | $12.40 |
| 22 | Missouri | $25,562 | $12.29 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $25,246 | $12.14 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $25,382 | $12.20 |
| 25 | Iowa | $24,552 | $11.80 |
| 26 | Nevada | $24,793 | $11.92 |
| 27 | Maine | $25,901 | $12.45 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $24,043 | $11.56 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $22,641 | $10.89 |
| 30 | Alaska | $22,340 | $10.74 |
| 31 | Washington | $26,316 | $12.65 |
| 32 | Illinois | $24,459 | $11.76 |
| 33 | Kansas | $23,896 | $11.49 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $23,810 | $11.45 |
| 35 | Florida | $22,818 | $10.97 |
| 36 | Utah | $21,938 | $10.55 |
| 37 | Maryland | $23,722 | $11.40 |
| 38 | Virginia | $25,177 | $12.10 |
| 39 | Montana | $21,841 | $10.50 |
| 40 | Idaho | $22,403 | $10.77 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $22,161 | $10.65 |
| 42 | Alabama | $22,597 | $10.86 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $23,294 | $11.20 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $23,317 | $11.21 |
| 45 | Georgia | $22,429 | $10.78 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $21,754 | $10.46 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $21,485 | $10.33 |
| 48 | Delaware | $19,915 | $9.57 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $19,809 | $9.52 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $21,005 | $10.10 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $19,751 | $9.50 |
The highest-paying cities for work-study assistants are Los Angeles, CA, Denver, CO, and Bridgewater, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $32,634 | $15.69 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $31,142 | $14.97 |
| 3 | Bridgewater, MA | $29,923 | $14.39 |
| 4 | Albany, NY | $29,767 | $14.31 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $28,582 | $13.74 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $27,630 | $13.28 |
| 7 | Bellevue, NE | $27,027 | $12.99 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor, MI | $27,016 | $12.99 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $26,274 | $12.63 |
| 10 | Parma, OH | $26,254 | $12.62 |
| 11 | Murfreesboro, TN | $25,376 | $12.20 |
| 12 | Lynchburg, VA | $24,998 | $12.02 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $24,976 | $12.01 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $24,875 | $11.96 |
| 15 | Waterloo, IA | $24,599 | $11.83 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $24,475 | $11.77 |
| 17 | Greenville, NC | $24,120 | $11.60 |
| 18 | Lawrence, KS | $23,926 | $11.50 |
| 19 | Gainesville, FL | $22,764 | $10.94 |
| 20 | Columbus, GA | $22,486 | $10.81 |
A work-study assistant's salary ranges from $18,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $34,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 75th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| Average | $25,211 | $2,101 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
| 10th Percentile | $18,000 | $1,500 | $9 |
The highest paying types of work-study assistants are title junior assistant, assistant, and instructional assistant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Study Student | $24,582 | $2,048 | $11.82 | 14,836 |
Top companies hiring work-study assistants now:
Work-study assistant salaries at University of California, Berkeley and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average work-study assistant salary at companies like Stratford School and State Bar of Michigan are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $36,631 | $17.61 |
| 2 | PowerSouth Energy Cooperative | $34,876 | $16.77 |
| 3 | Stratford School | $34,142 | $16.41 |
| 4 | State Bar of Michigan | $33,322 | $16.02 |
| 5 | UC Merced | $32,624 | $15.68 |
| 6 | Gettysburg College | $31,421 | $15.11 |
| 7 | Kaiser Permanente | $31,356 | $15.07 |
| 8 | Southwest Key Programs | $31,101 | $14.95 |
| 9 | LifePoint Health | $30,648 | $14.73 |
| 10 | Denver Public Schools | $29,933 | $14.39 |
| 11 | Bucknell University | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| 12 | Bryant & Stratton College | $29,022 | $13.95 |
| 13 | Austin Community College District | $28,226 | $13.57 |
| 14 | Rutgers University | $27,817 | $13.37 |
| 15 | University of Pennsylvania | $27,649 | $13.29 |
| 16 | UnityPoint Health | $26,787 | $12.88 |
| 17 | Trinity College | $26,310 | $12.65 |
| 18 | Central Oregon Community College | $26,189 | $12.59 |
| 19 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $26,157 | $12.58 |
| 20 | Bridgewater State University | $25,780 | $12.39 |
The average work-study assistant salary has risen by $4,530 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average work-study assistant earned $20,681 annually, but today, they earn $25,211 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for work-study assistants over the last decade.
Compare work-study assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare work-study assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,200 | $12.12 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $24,500 | $11.76 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $23,800 | $11.43 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $23,100 | $11.10 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $22,600 | $10.86 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Work-Study/Conference Services Assistant (TWO Open Positions) | Little Rock, AR | 06/30/2025 | $22,957 |
| State of Georgia | Federal Work Study Student-Science Lab Assistant | Thomasville, GA | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| University of Florida | Federal Work Study Student Assistant (Onestop) | Gainesville, FL | 06/28/2025 | $27,131 |
| CSU Careers | Admissions Operations, Processing-Federal Work Study Student Assistant | San Bernardino, CA | 06/27/2025 | $34,436 |
| Roxbury Community College | Work Study-Roxbury Community College | Boston, MA | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| TKL Research, Inc. | Study Assistant | Bloomfield, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $32,328 |
| California State University System | International Education-Federal Work Study Student Assistant | San Bernardino, CA | 06/25/2025 | $34,436 |
| College of Pharmacy It | Federal Work Study-Student Assistant (College of Pharmacy IT) | Gainesville, FL | 06/24/2025 | $31,305 |
| Pediatrics Genetics | Federal Work Study-Student Assistant (Pediatrics Genetics) | Gainesville, FL | 06/21/2025 | $27,131 |
| University of Arkansas System | Work-Study/Conference Services Assistant (TWO Open Positions) | Little Rock, AR | 06/20/2025 | $22,957 |
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