How Much Does a Teaching Assistant and Paraprofessional Make in the United States in 2026? (Hourly & After-Tax Salary)
Median Annual & Hourly Wage in the United States
$36,610/yr ($17.60/hr · $31,455 After-Tax)
Entry-Level (25th Pct)$28,560 ($13.73/hr)
Experienced (90th Pct)$49,420 ($23.76/hr)
Bi-Weekly Net Paycheck$1,209.79
Overtime Rate (1.5x)$26.40/hr
Gross vs. Net After-Tax Pay by Experience Level (2026)
| Level | Hourly | Gross Annual | Federal + FICA + State Tax | Net Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $13.73/hr | $28,560 | −$3,573.54 | $24,986.46 | $961.02 |
| Median (Mid-Career) | $17.60/hr | $36,610 | −$5,155.37 | $31,454.63 | $1,209.79 |
| Senior / Top 10% | $23.76/hr | $49,420 | −$7,672.53 | $41,747.47 | $1,605.67 |
Compare Wage Across All 50 U.S. States
Texas ($17.25/hr)California ($20.77/hr)Florida ($16.72/hr)New York ($20.42/hr)Illinois ($18.13/hr)Arizona ($17.07/hr)New Jersey ($19.71/hr)Georgia ($16.90/hr)North Carolina ($16.72/hr)Washington ($20.24/hr)Pennsylvania ($17.42/hr)Ohio ($16.54/hr)Nevada ($17.25/hr)Colorado ($18.66/hr)Virginia ($18.48/hr)Massachusetts ($20.59/hr)Michigan ($16.90/hr)Tennessee ($16.19/hr)Indiana ($16.37/hr)Maryland ($19.01/hr)Minnesota ($18.30/hr)Missouri ($16.19/hr)Wisconsin ($17.07/hr)Oregon ($18.48/hr)Connecticut ($19.54/hr)Utah ($17.07/hr)South Carolina ($16.02/hr)Alabama ($15.49/hr)Louisiana ($15.66/hr)Kentucky ($15.66/hr)Oklahoma ($15.66/hr)Kansas ($16.19/hr)Iowa ($16.37/hr)New Mexico ($16.19/hr)Arkansas ($15.31/hr)Mississippi ($14.96/hr)Nebraska ($16.54/hr)Idaho ($16.37/hr)Hawaii ($19.01/hr)New Hampshire ($18.13/hr)Maine ($16.72/hr)Rhode Island ($17.95/hr)Montana ($16.19/hr)Delaware ($17.78/hr)South Dakota ($16.02/hr)North Dakota ($16.72/hr)Alaska ($19.18/hr)Vermont ($17.25/hr)West Virginia ($15.14/hr)Wyoming ($16.72/hr)