Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary in San Diego, CA
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $46,440 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,044 take-home, or $3,170 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,393
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,879
- Medicare (1.45%)$673
- California income tax$847
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$604
- Take-home pay$38,044
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,540 | $17.57 | $30,614 | $2,551 |
| 25th percentile | $39,050 | $18.77 | $32,498 | $2,708 |
| Median (50th) | $46,440 | $22.33 | $38,044 | $3,170 |
| 75th percentile | $49,990 | $24.03 | $40,648 | $3,387 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,870 | $27.34 | $45,674 | $3,806 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,440 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median teaching assistants, except postsecondary's $38,044 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,002 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for teaching assistants, except postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #19 of 94 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $53,950 | $45,529 | $40,968 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $45,510 | $38,747 | $38,717 |
| 3 | Portland, ME | $48,770 | $39,256 | $38,540 |
| 4 | Modesto, CA | $47,990 | $39,187 | $37,641 |
| 5 | Visalia, CA | $45,230 | $37,136 | $37,201 |
| 6 | Fresno, CA | $45,340 | $37,218 | $36,432 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $49,010 | $39,932 | $36,163 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $46,330 | $37,961 | $35,664 |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | $46,440 | $38,044 | $34,002 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 94 metros →
About the job: teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Typical education
- Some college, no degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salaries elsewhere in California
- Modesto, CA — $47,990
- Visalia, CA — $45,230
- Fresno, CA — $45,340
- San Jose, CA — $49,010
- Riverside, CA — $46,330
- Stockton, CA — $45,550
- Oxnard, CA — $47,860
- Sacramento, CA — $45,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in San Diego, CA?
The median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $46,440 a year, or about $22.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,050 and $49,990.
What is a teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $46,440 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $38,044 a year ($3,170 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,451 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a teaching assistants, except postsecondary?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $36,780. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,002 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #19 of 94 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teaching assistants, except postsecondary afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 78% of a median teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $102,810
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $101,820
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $97,000
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $80,460
- Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other — $62,230
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $59,860
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $48,640
- Tutor — $47,050
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary — $45,120
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $44,940