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$5

$18

$31

How much do graduate assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for graduate assistant in Portage, MI is $18.36, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.23 and $20.10 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a graduate assistant?

Graduate Assistants (GAs) are graduate students who work part-time at a college or university, typically assisting faculty or departments with teaching, research, or administrative tasks. These positions often provide a stipend and/or tuition waiver in exchange for their work. Graduate Assistants gain valuable professional experience while pursuing their advanced degrees, and their responsibilities can vary widely depending on the department and the specific assistantship. Common duties include helping with classroom instruction, grading assignments, conducting research, or supporting university operations.

What does a graduate assistant do?

The job of a graduate assistant is to perform research, teach, or work at a university as part of their academic education. Graduate assistants are typically doctoral candidates, but some master’s students may also qualify to work in this position. Your duties in this career differ depending on your role and the level of class at which you assist. For example, many large lecture classes need graders, readers, and teaching assistants, all with separate responsibilities. On the other hand, if you work in labs or departmental offices, you may work as a full-time researcher.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graduate assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graduate Assistant, you generally need strong academic credentials in your field, research and analytical skills, and enrollment in a graduate program. Familiarity with educational technology platforms, data analysis tools, or laboratory equipment (depending on the discipline) is often required. Excellent communication, time management, and teamwork skills help you effectively support faculty and collaborate with students. These skills are vital for balancing multiple responsibilities while contributing to academic and research excellence.

What are some common challenges graduate assistants face when balancing academic work with assistantship responsibilities?

Graduate Assistants often juggle coursework, research, and their assistantship duties, which can include teaching, grading, or administrative tasks. Time management is a frequent challenge, as deadlines for academic work and assistantship responsibilities can sometimes overlap. Setting clear expectations with supervisors, prioritizing tasks, and using organizational tools can help maintain a healthy balance. Open communication with faculty and peers also plays a crucial role in managing workload and reducing stress.

What is the difference between Graduate Assistant vs Research Assistant?

AspectGraduate AssistantResearch Assistant
Required CredentialsEnrolled graduate student, often with a relevant degreeUndergraduate or graduate student, sometimes with specific research experience
Work EnvironmentAcademic settings, assisting in teaching or administrative tasksResearch labs, projects, or fieldwork within academic or research institutions
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, colleges, academic departmentsResearch institutions, universities, government agencies
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles, responsibilities, and qualificationsClarifying research duties and experience needed

While both roles support academic and research activities, a Graduate Assistant typically assists with teaching or administrative tasks while pursuing a graduate degree. A Research Assistant focuses primarily on conducting research projects, often requiring specific research skills. The roles often overlap in academic settings, but their main focus and responsibilities differ.

How much money do graduate assistants make?

Graduate assistants typically earn between $10 and $20 per hour, with annual stipends ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on the institution, field, and whether they are teaching or research assistants. Compensation often includes tuition waivers and benefits, and hours usually range from 10 to 20 per week during the academic year.

Is being a graduate assistant worth it?

A graduate assistant position provides students with work experience, often involving research, teaching, or administrative tasks, while offering a stipend or tuition waiver. It can enhance skills, build professional networks, and support academic progress, making it a valuable opportunity for many graduate students. However, the workload and time commitment should be considered in relation to academic goals.

What are graduate assistant jobs?

Graduate assistant jobs are positions typically held by graduate students that involve assisting faculty or staff with teaching, research, or administrative tasks. These roles often provide a stipend or tuition waiver and require skills relevant to the academic department or field of study.
More about Graduate Assistant jobs

What cities near Portage, MI are hiring for Graduate Assistant jobs?

Cities near Portage, MI with the most Graduate Assistant job openings:

Graduate Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graduate Assistant job openings in Portage, MI as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, and 36% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $38,187 per year, or $18.4 per hour.

Transportation Assistant

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

Battle Creek, MI • On-site

$45K/yr

Full-time, Part-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

U.S. Department Of Defense rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 539 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

27th of 49 rated military and defense

Job description

See below for important information regarding this job.Qualifications:To qualify for a Transportation Assistant your resume and supporting documentation must support:
A. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To qualify at the GS-06 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including minimum qualifications, and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience is preferred includes:
  • Responding to customer inquiries and ensuring alignment with existing processes.
  • Researching and verify accuracy of information to and from stakeholders.
  • Reconciling, preparing, verifying, and updating reports and documents.
  • Identifying logistics problems and offering viable solutions.
  • Assisting in the development, implementation and managing multiple projects, assignments, or tasks simultaneously to prioritize work in a changing environment.
B. Education: As a general rule, education is not creditable above GS-05 for most positions covered by this standard; however, graduate education may be credited in those few instances where graduate education is directly related to the work of the position.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
To be found well-qualified as an ICTAP applicant, individuals need to demonstrate experience such as: Utilizing regulations, policy, and procedures to perform a wide variety of interrelated and nonstandard support; Using automated systems to reconcile errors, delays, and research open and late actions; Performing in-depth research on customer complaints and initiates action for discrepancies; and Preparing correspondence in order to obtain, clarify or provide information related to support assignments, status, verify needs, obtain missing information, etc.
Education:Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level, unless graduate level education is directly related to the work of the position.
If applying using directly related graduate level education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.Employment Type: OTHER

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