Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $39,940 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,166 take-home, or $2,764 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teaching assistants, postsecondary salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,613
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,476
- Medicare (1.45%)$579
- California income tax$587
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$519
- Take-home pay$33,166
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,360 | $16.52 | $28,978 | $2,415 |
| 25th percentile | $36,600 | $17.60 | $30,659 | $2,555 |
| Median (50th) | $39,940 | $19.20 | $33,166 | $2,764 |
| 75th percentile | $58,190 | $27.98 | $46,638 | $3,887 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,450 | $39.16 | $61,726 | $5,144 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,940 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median teaching assistants, postsecondary's $33,166 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,204 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, Postsecondary jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for teaching assistants, postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #13 of 14 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College Station, TX | $57,790 | $48,614 | $53,451 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $61,780 | $49,261 | $46,181 |
| 3 | Champaign, IL | $50,110 | $40,108 | $43,264 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $58,330 | $46,703 | $42,893 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $47,990 | $39,409 | $40,508 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $49,810 | $41,166 | $39,845 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $49,760 | $39,894 | $36,848 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $38,490 | $33,107 | $33,567 |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $39,940 | $33,166 | $29,204 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 14 metros →
About the job: 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. Graduate students who teach one or more full courses should be classified in the 25-1000 minor group.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $61,780
- San Diego, CA — $45,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, postsecondary make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median teaching assistants, postsecondary salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $39,940 a year, or about $19.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,600 and $58,190.
What is a teaching assistants, postsecondary’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $39,940 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $33,166 a year ($2,764 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,106 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a teaching assistants, postsecondary?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $42,910. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,204 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #13 of 14 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teaching assistants, postsecondary afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 81% of a median teaching assistants, postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $134,590
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary — $114,330
- Special Education Teachers, All Other — $109,600
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- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $101,860
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $100,960
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $100,900
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $98,370
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $97,680
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $97,510
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $96,970
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