Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Educational Instruction and Library
The work sits inside colleges and universities: leading discussion or lab sections, teaching undergraduate courses, and tutoring students who need extra help. Day to day it also means writing syllabi and answer keys, preparing and proctoring exams, grading papers on a deadline, and telling students how to submit work. Faculty set the course; this role carries much of the instructional follow-through. It suits people who like explaining material clearly, reading and writing with care, and keeping track of student work under someone else's course plan.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$42'910
Median Wage Market Position
$42'910
What you might do
- Teach undergraduate courses alongside faculty
- Lead discussion groups, tutorials, or lab sections
- Grade exams and papers, then record the scores
- Build syllabi, visual aids, and course websites
- Tutor students who need extra instruction
- Prepare exams and return work by deadlines
Skills that matter
- Undergraduate lectures, labs, and discussion sections
- Careful reading and grading of papers
- Course materials such as syllabi and notes
- Clear instructions for labs and submissions
- Exam preparation, proctoring, and timely returns
- Mentoring undergraduates who need extra instruction
AI & the future of this role
Grading, scripted discussion support, and materials preparation are tasks generative systems can already accelerate for faculty. Mentoring and in-lab or studio presence still count, yet much of the support load sits on screens where automation pressure is likely to rise.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details