How to become a post-secondary teaching and research assistant
Official title: Post-secondary teaching and research assistants
Also called: College teaching assistant, College laboratory assistant, University research assistant, University teaching assistant, Graduate assistant - university, University laboratory assistant, Post-secondary research assistant, Post-secondary teaching assistant, Tutor - post-secondary teaching assistant, Marker - post-secondary teaching assistance, Laboratory supervisor - post-secondary teaching assistant, Discussion group leader - post-secondary teaching assistant
Post-secondary teaching and research assistants assist university professors, community college and CEGEP teachers and other faculty members in teaching and research activities at universities and colleges.
Main tasks
- Post-secondary teaching assistants
- Organize reference materials, visual aids and other materials as required by university professors or college teachers for lectures
- Conduct seminars, discussion groups and laboratory sessions to supplement lectures
- Assist in the preparation and administration of examinations
- Grade examinations, term papers and laboratory reports
- Research assistants
- Conduct literature reviews, surveys, laboratory experiments and other research for use in scholarly publications
- Compile research results and assist professors in the analysis of results and the preparation of journal articles or papers
How to become one
Enrolment in, or completion of, a university or college program is required.
Ways in
- University: Education & Teaching degrees, Offered by 16 universities in Canada
- University: Science degrees, Offered by 16 universities in Canada
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $52,650 a year The middle half earn $39,000 to $72,150.
- About 84,200 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 95,500 are projected by 2033. (+13.4%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a post-secondary teaching and research assistant?
Enrolment in, or completion of, a university or college program is required.
How much does a post-secondary teaching and research assistant earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $52,650 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $39,000 to $72,150.
Is a post-secondary teaching and research assistant a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 13% by 2033, from about 84,200 to about 95,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a post-secondary teaching and research assistant?
Usually. 78% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03