Occupation · SOC 25-9044
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
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.
Median wage
—
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
3 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingInstructingLearning StrategiesWritingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationMonitoringCritical ThinkingCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingTime ManagementJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningPersuasionNegotiationSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisMathematicsManagement of Personnel ResourcesQuality Control AnalysisScienceOperations MonitoringOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignTroubleshootingProgrammingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
English LanguageEducation and TrainingComputers and ElectronicsMathematicsCommunications and MediaPsychologyAdministrativeSociology and AnthropologyCustomer and Personal ServiceBiologyHistory and ArcheologyAdministration and ManagementPublic Safety and SecurityPhilosophy and TheologyFine ArtsDesignGeographyChemistryPhysicsEngineering and TechnologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesTherapy and CounselingMedicine and DentistryProduction and ProcessingForeign LanguageTransportationTelecommunicationsMechanicalLaw and GovernmentSales and MarketingBuilding and ConstructionEconomics and AccountingFood Production
Technology & tools
Adobe PhotoshopBlackboard LearnCalendar and scheduling softwareCollaborative editing softwareCourse management system softwareDOC CopDesire2Learn LMS softwareEmail softwareGoogle DocsIBM SPSS StatisticsImage scanning softwareLearning management system LMSMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordSASSakai CLEStructured query language SQLWeb browser softwareiParadigms Turnitin
Representative tasks
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesTraining and Teaching OthersWorking with ComputersDocumenting/Recording InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsGetting InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeProcessing InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsCoaching and Developing OthersAssisting and Caring for OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicDeveloping and Building TeamsSelling or Influencing OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Undergraduate course content — deliver introductory lectures under faculty supervision in a university classroom setting.Examinations and assignments — grade and record student scores using established rubrics provided by the supervising instructor.Discussion sections and laboratory sessions — facilitate structured activities by following pre-designed lesson plans in a postsecondary lab or seminar room.Supplementary course notes and visual aids — prepare draft teaching materials according to faculty specifications for an undergraduate course.Class work submission procedures — communicate assignment instructions and deadlines to students clearly during scheduled course meetings.Graded assignments — return evaluated work to students within deadlines set by the supervising faculty member.Examination proctoring — administer and monitor in-person or online tests in accordance with departmental academic-integrity protocols.Students requiring additional support — provide individual tutoring sessions by reinforcing core concepts covered in the course curriculum.Word processing and office suite software — produce course documents such as answer keys and handouts for distribution in undergraduate classes.Student questions and concerns — respond with active listening and empathy during office hours at a postsecondary institution.
developing
Undergraduate course sections — teach scheduled classes with reduced faculty oversight, adapting pacing to observed student comprehension levels.Grading workflows for papers and exams — evaluate student work independently and apply consistent analytical criteria across a full roster.Discussion and laboratory sections — lead inquiry-based activities that connect theoretical content to practical applications in a discipline-specific lab environment.Course syllabi and web-based resources — develop structured teaching materials including learning objectives and course websites for undergraduate use.Assignment submission procedures — design and communicate clear written and verbal instructions for lab reports and multi-stage projects.Graded assignments and feedback — return assessed work on schedule while providing written commentary that guides student improvement.Examination preparation — draft exam questions aligned to course learning objectives and coordinate logistics with the supervising faculty member.At-risk students — identify learning difficulties through ongoing monitoring and deliver targeted mentoring sessions within a postsecondary advising context.Analytical and spreadsheet software — organize and analyze grade data to track student performance trends across a semester.Course delivery challenges — apply learning strategies and problem-solving skills to adapt instructional methods when standard approaches prove ineffective.
proficient
Undergraduate courses — teach autonomously across the full scope of an introductory or intermediate course, managing all instructional decisions independently.Complex grading and assessment — evaluate nuanced student work such as research papers and original analyses using self-developed rubrics in a university department.Discussion, tutorial, and laboratory sections — design and facilitate high-level sessions that promote critical thinking and discipline-specific inquiry without faculty direction.Comprehensive teaching materials — author complete syllabi, visual aids, supplementary notes, and multimedia course websites tailored to diverse undergraduate learners.Assignment and lab report protocols — produce and revise detailed written instructions that address non-routine student questions and edge cases in submission requirements.Timely return of assessed work — manage complex grading timelines across multiple course sections while maintaining accuracy and constructive feedback quality.Examination development and proctoring — construct, validate, and administer exams—including proctoring accommodations—in compliance with institutional academic-integrity standards.Student mentoring — provide sustained academic coaching for students facing complex learning challenges, drawing on advanced knowledge of learning strategies and social perceptiveness.Information retrieval and computer-based training software — integrate digital tools into course design to enhance self-directed learning for postsecondary students.Instructional problems — apply independent judgment and critical thinking to resolve pedagogical issues—such as content gaps or assessment misalignment—within an undergraduate program.
advanced
Instructional frameworks and teaching philosophies — establish departmental standards for undergraduate pedagogy, guiding junior teaching assistants in course design and delivery.Assessment systems — lead the design of program-wide grading policies and evaluation criteria that align with learning outcomes across multiple undergraduate courses.Discussion section and laboratory curricula — innovate evidence-based instructional models for large-enrollment courses, sharing best practices with faculty and TA teams.Teaching material repositories — direct the development and curation of shared syllabi, digital resources, and course toolkits adopted across a postsecondary department.TA onboarding and professional development — mentor and train cohorts of new teaching assistants in instructional methods, academic-integrity protocols, and student-support strategies.Examination and assessment quality — lead program-level review of exam validity, grading consistency, and academic-integrity enforcement across a postsecondary institution.Strategic student support initiatives — design and oversee tutoring and mentoring programs that address systemic equity gaps in undergraduate learning outcomes.Cross-disciplinary instructional technology integration — champion the adoption of analytical, OCR, and computer-based training software to modernize course delivery at the institutional level.Scholarly and pedagogical inquiry — contribute original research on teaching effectiveness and learning strategies, informing curriculum policy at the department or college level.Departmental coordination and collaboration — lead cross-functional teams of faculty, TAs, and academic advisors to align instructional goals with institutional academic mission and accreditation standards.
Also known as
20 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Classroom AssistantCollege AssistantCollege Biology Teaching Assistant (College Biology TA)Exam ProctorFaculty Research AssistantGraduate AssistantGraduate FellowGraduate Research AssistantGraduate StudentGraduate Student Instructor (GSI)Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)Graduate Teaching AssociateProctorResearch Assistant (RA)Student AssistantTeacher AssistantTeaching Assistant (TA)Teaching FellowTesting ProctorUndergraduate TA (Undergraduate Teaching Assistant)