Jobs / Education and social services / 25-9044.00

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.

US jobs
164,090
Median wage
$42,910 a year
Job family
Education and social services

Can agents do the work of teaching assistants, postsecondary?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Education and social services: Unmeasured (no change in 12 months)

No direct benchmark gives a success rate.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 17%Teach academic or vocational subjectsNot measured
  • 14%Assess student capabilities, needs, or performanceNot measured
  • 12%Distribute materials, supplies, or resourcesNot measured
  • 10%Communicate with others about operational plans or activitiesNot measured
  • 8%Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or researchNot measured
  • 8%Prepare informational or instructional materialsNot measured
  • 6%Advise others on educational or vocational mattersNot measured
  • 6%Schedule operational activitiesNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in education and social services, not always this occupation's tasks.

Context only

These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.

  • GDPvalby OpenAIProject level · Wins plus ties against experts
    84.9%GPT-5.5 · Apr 2026
    Strong
  • TutorMoments-Previewby Ai2Task level · Mean of appropriate scaffolding and appropriate rigor (evaluation-aware prompt)
    0.84Claude Opus 4.8 · 7 Aug 2026
    Strong

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • 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.
  • Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.
  • Meet with supervisors to discuss students' grades or to complete required grade-related paperwork.
  • Schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students.
  • Order or obtain materials needed for classes.
  • Copy and distribute classroom materials.
Other job titles for this occupation (20)

Graduate Assistant · Graduate Fellow · Graduate Research Assistant · Graduate Student · Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) · Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) · Research Assistant (RA) · Teaching Assistant (TA) · Teaching Fellow · Classroom Assistant · College Assistant · College Biology Teaching Assistant (College Biology TA) · Exam Proctor · Faculty Research Assistant · Graduate Teaching Associate · Proctor · Student Assistant · Teacher Assistant · Testing Proctor · Undergraduate TA (Undergraduate Teaching Assistant)