Teaching Assistant salary in California
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A teaching assistant in California earns a median of $46,490 a year ($22.35/hour equivalent), 26.4% above the national median of $36,780. California ranks #4 of 51 states. About 177,140 people do this job in California.
Take-home pay in California
At the California median, a single filer keeps about $38,088 a year after federal, FICA and California taxes — $1,465 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the California paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,788.08
- Federal income tax
- −$130.72
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$110.86
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$25.93
- California income tax
- −$32.40
- CA SDI
- −$23.25
- Take-home pay
- $1,464.93
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $46,490
- Federal
- $3,399
- FICA
- $3,556
- State + local
- $1,447
- Net
- $38,088
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How California compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $49,120 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $46,920 |
| #3 | Maine | $46,750 |
| #4 | California | $46,490 |
| #5 | Vermont | $43,800 |
| #49 | Louisiana | $27,400 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $25,840 |
| #51 | Alabama | $24,070 |
See the national teaching assistant salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary (SOC 25-9045), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistant make in California?
The median salary is $46,490 a year and the average is $47,300 (BLS May 2025).
Is California a good state for teaching assistants?
California ranks #4 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 26% above the national median of $36,780.
What is $46,490 after taxes in California?
About $38,088 a year ($1,465 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.