Salaries › Postsecondary Teaching Assistant › California
Postsecondary Teaching Assistant Salary in California (2026)
— per hour · take-home ≈ $40,513/year ($3,376/month) for a single filer
California ranks 16th of 47 states for Postsecondary Teaching Assistant pay, with a median about 8% above the national average. Of the 19,120 Postsecondary Teaching Assistant jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $49,140 a year — though pay ranges from $35,460 for newcomers to $77,440 at the top.
Postsecondary Teaching Assistant pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,460 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,440 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $49,140 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $64,280 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $77,440 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 19,120 Postsecondary Teaching Assistant jobs in California (occupation code 25-9044, “Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Postsecondary Teaching Assistant salary of $49,140 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $40,513 — an effective tax rate of 17.6%.
| Gross (median) | $49,140 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,717 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,759 |
| California state income tax | −$1,151 |
| Take-home (annual) | $40,513 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,376 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Postsecondary Teaching Assistant make in California?
- The median Postsecondary Teaching Assistant salary in California is $49,140 per year (— per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,440 and $64,280.
- What is the take-home pay for a Postsecondary Teaching Assistant in California?
- On the median salary of $49,140, a single filer in California takes home about $40,513 per year ($3,376 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.6%.
- How many Postsecondary Teaching Assistant jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 19,120 Postsecondary Teaching Assistant jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Postsecondary Teaching Assistants
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.