by our College Data Analytics TeamDo you love to help others learn but can't commit the time and money to be a fully licensed teacher? You may want to consider being a teaching assistant or aide. Teaching assistants work with licensed teachers in a variety of tasks related to daily classroom management. This may include helping students when they have questions, grading homework and working in small groups to help reinforce lessons as they are being taught.
While many teaching assistants work with a single teacher, some may be responsible for working directly with disabled students. They may travel from class to class with their assigned student helping them get through the day and to help them cover material they are struggling with.
Other teaching assistants may be responsible for teaching ESL courses or other specialized instruction via community outreach programs.
If you need flexibility in your schedule, being a teaching assistant can be a good fit as there are a wide variety of needs from full to part-time assistants and aides. Many assistants also get the summer off!
Whatever the topic, teaching assistants are an invaluable resource for both students are instructors.
Teaching Assistants was the 244th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 2,751 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 932 over the prior year, a growth of 33.9%.
Our 2023 Best Teaching Assistants Schools ranking analyzes 25 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for teaching assistants students. Explore this or one of our many other custom teaching assistants rankings further below.
Although you won't be able to get a degree specifically for teaching assistant, most jobs will require you to have at least some level of college or an associate's degree. If you desire to be a fully licensed teacher at some point, you may consider focusing on the education field so any credits earned now can go towards your long-term goal.
Successful teaching assistants must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You will need to be able to communicate with students and help them understand the material being covered. Since not all students learn at the same pace or in the same manner, you may need to get creative with how you are reinforcing the lessons being taught. For this reason, creative problem solving is also a great skill to have.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most teaching assistants degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific teaching assistants careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Teaching Assistants degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in teaching assistants to something that takes less time like a . Teaching Assistants programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to teaching assistants, with approximately 20.4% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for teaching assistants workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 22.2% |
| High School Diploma | 18.5% |
| Some College Courses | 17.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 16.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 12.0% |
54.5% of teaching assistants workers have at least a associate. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in teaching assistants have received.
The education level required is different depending on the teaching assistants career you are seeking.
Teaching assistants are responsible for working with their assigned teachers to assist in creating curriculum, performing teaching duties, grading homework and general class administration such as taking attendance.
Want a job when you graduate with your teaching assistants degree? Teaching Assistants careers are expected to grow 8.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to teaching assistants.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Assistants | 1,417,600 | 8.4% |
Teaching Assistants graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $19,113 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $9,714 to as high as $28,446. As you might expect, salaries for teaching assistants graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for teaching assistants graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers teaching assistants grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Teacher Assistants | $28,750 |
With over 290 different teaching assistants degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased teaching assistants school rankings to help you with this.
One of 14 majors within the Education area of study, Teaching Assistants has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Assistant/Aide | 2,003 |
| Other Teaching Assistants/Aides | 728 |
| Adult Literacy Tutor/Instructor | 20 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 110,226 |
| Educational Administration | 46,469 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 43,297 |
| Special Education | 36,792 |
| General Education | 29,810 |
Image Credit: By IMCBerea College under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
