Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in Madison, WI
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $47,990 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,409 take-home, or $3,284 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teaching assistants, postsecondary salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,579
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,975
- Medicare (1.45%)$696
- Wisconsin income tax$1,331
- Take-home pay$39,409
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,990 | $23.07 | $39,409 | $3,284 |
| 25th percentile | $47,990 | $23.07 | $39,409 | $3,284 |
| Median (50th) | $47,990 | $23.07 | $39,409 | $3,284 |
| 75th percentile | $47,990 | $23.07 | $39,409 | $3,284 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,990 | $23.07 | $39,409 | $3,284 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,990 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median teaching assistants, postsecondary's $39,409 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,508 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Madison, WI has 5.6× the national concentration of teaching assistants, postsecondary jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for teaching assistants, postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #5 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 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, postsecondary make in Madison, WI?
The median teaching assistants, postsecondary salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $47,990 a year, or about $23.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,990 and $47,990.
What is a teaching assistants, postsecondary’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $47,990 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $39,409 a year ($3,284 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,331 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a teaching assistants, postsecondary?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $42,910. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,508 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #5 of 14 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teaching assistants, postsecondary afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median teaching assistants, postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.