All About Graduate Teaching Assistants
Graduate Teaching Assistant Job Description Assist faculty or other instructional staff in postsecondary institutions by performing teaching or teaching-related duties, such as teaching lower level courses, developing teaching materials, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers. Graduate teaching assistants must be enrolled in a graduate school program. Graduate assistants who primarily perform non-teaching duties, such as research, should be reported in the occupational category related to the work performed.
Daily Life Of a Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Provide assistance to faculty members or staff with laboratory or field research.
- Copy and distribute classroom materials.
- Attend lectures given by the supervising instructor.
- Schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students.
- Develop teaching materials, such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, or course Web sites.
- Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.
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Graduate Teaching Assistant Skills
When polled, Graduate Teaching Assistants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Instructor
- Research Assistant (RA)
- Teaching Fellow
- Faculty Research Assistant
- Graduate Student
Job Outlook for Graduate Teaching Assistants
There were about 168,300 jobs for Graduate Teaching Assistant in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 12,900 new jobs for Graduate Teaching Assistant by 2026. The BLS estimates 14,400 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Graduate Teaching Assistant are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Illinois, or North Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Graduate Teaching Assistant
Graduate Teaching Assistants make between $18,320 and $59,290 a year.

Graduate Teaching Assistants who work in Massachusetts, Washington, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
How much do Graduate Teaching Assistants make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $23,740 |
Arkansas | $20,590 |
California | $36,350 |
Colorado | $39,190 |
District of Columbia | $38,220 |
Florida | $29,110 |
Georgia | $26,460 |
Idaho | $29,730 |
Illinois | $43,670 |
Indiana | $40,140 |
Iowa | $31,370 |
Kansas | $36,390 |
Louisiana | $31,220 |
Maine | $23,970 |
Maryland | $46,840 |
Massachusetts | $55,020 |
Michigan | $36,820 |
Minnesota | $52,650 |
Mississippi | $39,390 |
Missouri | $31,170 |
Montana | $18,850 |
New Jersey | $36,390 |
New Mexico | $27,040 |
New York | $38,520 |
Ohio | $47,400 |
Oklahoma | $26,590 |
Oregon | $36,950 |
Pennsylvania | $44,960 |
South Carolina | $37,880 |
Tennessee | $23,330 |
Texas | $34,930 |
Utah | $51,750 |
Washington | $53,180 |
West Virginia | $21,670 |
Wisconsin | $36,190 |
What Tools do Graduate Teaching Assistants Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Graduate Teaching Assistants:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- SAS
- Google Docs
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Learning management system LMS
- Blackboard Learn
- Course management system software
- Sakai CLE
- Desire2Learn
- iParadigms Turnitin
Becoming a Graduate Teaching Assistant
Individuals working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Graduate Teaching Assistants?

Below are examples of industries where Graduate Teaching Assistants work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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