SalaryExplorer

SOC 25-9045 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondaryMemphis

Memphis, TN-MS-AR · 9 metro areas compared

$29,330 /year
4,280jobs in area
20.3%vs US median

In Memphis, TN the median wage is $29,330.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $36,78010TH$24,490MEDIAN$29,33075TH$37,07090TH$40,270

Salary overview

In Memphis, TN the median wage is $29,330. That is 20.3% lower than the national median of $36,780. Pay ranges from under $24,490 at the tenth percentile to more than $40,270 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $28,420 to $37,070.

Employment stands at 4,280, or 7.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $32,620. Of the 564 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 548th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Memphis, TN-MS-AR · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$24,490−33.4%
25th$28,420−22.7%
Median (50th)$29,330−20.3%
75th$37,070+0.8%
90th$40,270+9.5%
Mean$31,740−13.7%

Other metro areas in Tennessee

Median annual wage for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Nashville$32,6206,060
2Chattanooga$29,8401,210
3Kingsport$29,2601,410
4Jackson$29,190850
5Johnson City$28,370750
6Knoxville$26,9603,070
7Clarksville$26,5201,070
8Morristown$26,200450
9Cleveland$23,940390

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Memphis run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $29,330 goes as far as $31,915 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.2% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$29,330as reported by BLS

Local price level

91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$31,915US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $29,330 a year, 20.3% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $24,490 to $40,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 4,280 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $32,620.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in Memphis, TN?

The median annual wage is $29,330, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $36,780, so pay in Memphis, TN is 20.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in Memphis, TN earns more than $40,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $24,490 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Nashville, at $32,620 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 4,280 jobs in this occupation in Memphis, TN. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary in Memphis, TN (2025): $29,330 Median | Salary Explorer