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How much do graduate teaching assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for graduate teaching assistant in Tennessee is $15.10, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.59 and $17.45 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, you typically need a strong grasp of the subject matter, enrollment in a relevant graduate program, and effective organizational skills. Familiarity with learning management systems (such as Blackboard or Canvas), grading software, and classroom technology is often expected. Excellent communication, time management, and the ability to provide constructive feedback are essential soft skills in this role. These skills ensure you can support faculty, facilitate student learning, and maintain efficient, productive classroom environments.

What is the difference between Graduate Teaching Assistant vs Teaching Fellow?

AspectGraduate Teaching AssistantTeaching Fellow
Required CredentialsEnrolled graduate student, often pursuing a master's or PhDTypically a graduate student or recent graduate with relevant academic background
Work EnvironmentAssisting professors in undergraduate classes, grading, tutoringLeading or co-teaching courses, delivering lectures, developing curriculum
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, colleges, academic institutionsUniversities, colleges, academic institutions

While both roles involve supporting higher education, Graduate Teaching Assistants primarily assist with grading and student support, whereas Teaching Fellows often take on more teaching responsibilities, including leading classes. Both positions are common in academic settings and require graduate-level credentials.

What are some common challenges faced by Graduate Teaching Assistants, and how can they be managed effectively?

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) often juggle multiple responsibilities, such as grading, leading discussion sections, and assisting with course preparation, while also managing their own coursework and research. Balancing these tasks can be challenging, especially during peak periods like exams. Effective time management, clear communication with supervising faculty, and seeking support from fellow GTAs or campus resources can help manage these demands. Additionally, understanding expectations early and staying organized are key strategies for success in this role.

What are Graduate Teaching Assistants?

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are graduate students who support faculty members in teaching undergraduate or graduate courses. Their responsibilities can include leading discussion sections, grading assignments and exams, holding office hours, and sometimes lecturing or helping develop course materials. GTAs gain valuable teaching experience while pursuing their own advanced degrees, and their work helps support the instructional mission of universities. The specific duties and expectations for GTAs vary by institution and academic department.

What Is a Graduate Teaching Assistant?

A graduate teaching assistant helps a college professor conduct their course, both in and out of the classroom. As a graduate assistant, you may be asked to grade assignments or prepare class presentations. You also provide support to students during office hours. In some cases, you have full teaching duties for a low-level class. Graduate teaching assistants are a crucial element of postsecondary education. To be a graduate teaching assistant, you must have current enrollment in a master’s degree program. You spend most of your time in the classroom but may need to run errands on campus. This is an ideal position for any grad students hoping to pursue a career in academics.

More about Graduate Teaching Assistant jobs
What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Graduate Teaching Assistant jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Graduate Teaching Assistant job openings:
Graduate Teaching Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graduate Teaching Assistant job openings in Tennessee as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $31,410 per year, or $15.1 per hour.
Teaching Assistant or Associate Professor in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering to start (Fall semes

Teaching Assistant or Associate Professor in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering to start (Fall semes

The University of Tennessee Knoxville

Knoxville, TN • On-site

Full-time

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

University Of Tennessee, Knoxville rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 59 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

384th of 612 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Description
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) invites applications for a full-time (9-month), teaching-focused faculty position at the rank of Teaching Assistant Professor or Teaching Associate Professor (non-tenure track) with a start date of 8/1/2026. The successful candidate will support and enhance undergraduate education through high-quality instruction and instructional leadership. The appointment is expected to include classroom instruction of six (6) courses per academic year and related academic duties such as course coordination, curriculum development, and student mentoring. Summer teaching is optional and carries additional summer payment. Rank and initial appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Primary teaching needs include core undergraduate courses in:
- Mechanics-Statics
- Mechanics/Strength of Materials
- Manufacturing Processes and/or Machine Design
- Senior Design for Mechanical Engineering
Responsibilities
- Teach undergraduate courses in the solid mechanics area, including Statics, Mechanics of Materials, Manufacturing Processes, Machine Design, and Senior/Capstone Design.
- Develop course materials (syllabi, lectures, assignments, exams, labs/activities) and implement evidence-based instructional practices.
- Coordinate multi-section courses and contribute to course assessment and continuous improvement activities (e.g., ABET-related assessment) as appropriate to rank.
- Maintain regular office hours and provide academic support and mentoring to students.
- Participate in departmental, college, and/or university service consistent with instructional-track faculty expectations, approximately equivalent to two (2) courses per year.
The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) is in the midst of an unprecedented period of growth and success, including adding over 30 new faculty to the college as part of ambitious hiring campaigns led by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. The college has set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incoming student GPA, intellectual property development, and USNWR rank in the past three years. New facilities include the state-of-the art Zeanah Engineering Complex, the University of Tennessee Manufacturing and Design Enterprise (TN-MADE) facility, and the Innovation South building now under construction that will house UTK's Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF).
TCE currently has 203 tenure/tenure track and 79 non-tenure track faculty in its nine academic departments and offers 11 undergraduate, 16 MS, and 15 PhD/DE degree programs. Affiliated with TCE and located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the UT Space Institute is a hub of aerospace and defense research. The college is also home to eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4,300 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students, the college sits 29th among public universities in the most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the college have won 29 early career awards (NSF, DOE, DARPA, AFOSR, and ARO) since 2016. In FY24, the college had annual research expenditures of $113.6M.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications for Teaching Assistant Professor
  • Education: Earned Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or closely-related discipline by the start date.
  • Experience: instructor of record for undergraduate-level engineering course, or graduate teaching assistant role in undergraduate-level engineering course
  • Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching and communication

Preferred Qualifications
  • Education: Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering, or closely-related discipline
  • Experience: development of active-learning strategies (e.g. demonstrations), course coordination among multiple sections and instructors, and/or leading learning assessment
  • Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Familiarity with modern computation and instructional tools (MATLAB, Python, numerical methods, simulation-related instruction)

Additional Qualifications for Teaching Associate Professor (if applicable)
  • Earned Ph.D. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
  • Record of effective teaching at the university level, with evidence of instructional impact (e.g., course evaluations, peer reviews, course leadership).
  • Experience with curriculum development, course coordination, and/or leading course assessment.

Application Instructions
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before July 01, 2026. (apply.interfolio.com/187216) Applications will be reviewed continuously, but those received by July 01, 2026 will receive priority. If you have any questions regarding this position please contact Dr. Doug Aaron (daaron@utk.edu)
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- List of 3 Professional References

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