Job Expectations and Pay
When you sign up to TA for the Physics department:
- You are confirming that you will be available during the entire quarter, including the final-exam grading period.
- You will attend all TA meetings, sections, office hours, etc., and will complete all tasks associated with your TAship.
- You may have to grade problem sets and administer and/or grade exams on weekends.
What your students expect from you, their section or lab TA (Large Intro Courses may be different):
- You, the TA, will be present and on time at every section. Note: on time means getting to the room where your section meets at least 5 minutes before section starts. For discussion section TAs, this allows you to make sure the room is ready to go, working markers are available for both you and your students, and demonstrations, if any, are set up. For lab TAs, this allows you to make sure the equipment is set up and working.
- If you absolutely must miss a section due to an unexpected emergency, you will find a suitable substitute.
- You will return graded homework following the guidelines for the course but no later than five days after the due date if the course does not have a defined guideline. This gives students the opportunity to see what they have done wrong so they do not repeat the same mistake on the next assignment. Scores for graded labs must be entered by the next lab period.
- You will grade homework/lab so that your students can see which parts were correct and which were incorrect. Although you do not necessarily need to explain on the homework specifically where a student went wrong, it should be clear on which part(s) the student lost points.
- You will send out weekly Canvas announcements to students letting them know about common mistakes in problem sets.
- You will be available for office hours or group study hall (GSH) hours each week and communicate those hours to your students.
What students can expect from You and other TAs:
- TAs will staff the tutoring center and/or be present for office hours at the stated times.
- Problem set solutions will be posted in a timely fashion after the due date.
- Exams will be graded so that students can see which parts were correct and which were incorrect. (The TA will not necessarily explain on an exam specifically where a student went wrong, but it should be clear which parts let to lost points and which didn't). Exams will be graded consistently across students.
TA Salary and Tuition Support
| Appointment | SALARYPERQUARTER | SalaryPERPAY PERIOD | School ofH&S TuitionAllowance | School ofEngineering TuitionAllowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TA 25% | $7,394.10 | $1,232.35 | $7,090 | $7,550 |
| TA 50% | $14,788.20 | $2,381.40 | $14,180 | $15,100 |
| HTA* 50% PHYS 20 series | $15,124.50 | $2,520.75 | $14,180 | $15,100 |
| HTA* 50% PHYS 40 series | $15,687.72 | $2,614.62 | $14,180 | $15,100 |
| Course Assistant** 25% | $7307.70 | $1,217.95 | $7,090 | $7,550 |
* HTA = Head Teaching Assistant
** Course Assistant (CA) appointments do not count towards the three-quarter TA requirement for graduate students in the Physics Department unless a petition has been filed.
Regardless of the type of appointment, graduate students who are TAs or CAs and have reached TGR status receive a total tuition allowance corresponding to TGR tuition.
Undergraduate TAs receive the same salaries but do not receive a tuition allowance.
Summer TAs are paid the same as regular academic year TAs, just over a shorter period of time.
Students in coterminal Master's programs should refer to this link for detailed information on tuition assessment and Undergraduate vs. Graduate status. Coterm students who are eligible and opt to change to the graduate coterminal student group and are assessed the applicable graduate tuition rate will receive the relevant tuition allowance.
Graders are paid hourly and do not receive any tuition allowance. Hourly grading rate for 2026-27 is TBD