Career Overview
Assist faculty or other instructional staff in postsecondary institutions by performing instructional support activities, such as developing teaching materials, leading discussion groups, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers.
Also Known As
- Graduate Assistant
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
- Research Assistant (RA)
- Teaching Assistant (TA)
Alternate Job Titles
- Classroom Assistant
- College Assistant
- College Biology Teaching Assistant (College Biology TA)
- Exam Proctor
- Faculty Research Assistant
- Graduate Assistant
- Graduate Fellow
- Graduate Research Assistant
- Graduate Student
- Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
- Graduate Teaching Associate
- Proctor
- Research Assistant (RA)
- Student Assistant
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Teach undergraduate-level courses.
- Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers, and record grades.
- Lead discussion sections, tutorials, or laboratory sections.
- Develop teaching materials, such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, or course Web sites.
- Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.
- Return assignments to students in accordance with established deadlines.
- Prepare or proctor examinations.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Correspond with students through email to address their questions and concerns.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
- Originality
- Fluency of Ideas
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Optimism
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Empathy
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Support
- Independence
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Photoshop
- Google Docs
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAS
- Structured query language SQL
Tools & Equipment
- Carousel slide projectors
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Computer projectors
- Conference telephones
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Handheld microphones
- Interactive whiteboard controllers
- Interactive whiteboards
- Laptop computers
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $28,020 |
| Median | $44,930 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $73,560 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 155,010
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Tutors
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Education Teachers, Postsecondary
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Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
Education: Bachelor's Degree
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Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $62,340
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.