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Careers›Roles›Test Grader
Mid-Level

Test Grader

A Test Grader evaluates student exams or assessments — applying rubrics consistently, scoring at scale, and providing the assessment data instructors and institutions rely on.

Test Grader pay typically runs $29K–$44K at this level.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
S
C
R
E
I
A
Socialhelping, teaching
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers

While you’re learning about the Test Grader role, anything we can help you with this week?

What it's like

What it's like to be a Test Grader

Days tend to revolve around stacks (or queues) of test responses. You're scoring against a rubric, calibrating with other graders, and tracking score patterns that surface inconsistencies. The pace can be intense during exam windows and quieter between them.

The collaboration tends to be asynchronous and rubric-mediated. You're working with lead instructors, course coordinators, or testing-organization quality teams, and norming sessions to align on rubric application are usually part of the rhythm. Disagreements about strictness can be a real undercurrent.

People who tend to thrive bring patience for repetition, calibration discipline, and steady stamina for sustained focused work. If you need direct teaching contact, faster feedback loops, or visible career progression, the role's narrow specialization can feel constraining.

What people in this role value
Work values data not available for this role.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns

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Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Financial Services$96K+59%
Energy & Utilities$92K+53%
Professional Services$91K+50%
Technology & Information$87K+44%
Wholesale & Distribution$66K+10%
Compared to Education average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Test Graders (SOC 25-9042.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Education →
Test GraderEducational AssistantGifted and Talented Student Education AideElementary Teacher AssistantExam Grader (Examination Grader)Preschool AideExam Proctor (Examination Proctor)Exam Scorer (Examination Scorer)Instructional AssistantStudent TeacherPreschool ParaprofessionalPaper GraderGrading ClerkElementary ParaprofessionalPractice TeacherInstructional ParaprofessionalParaprofessional Aide TeacherTA (Teaching Assistant)Preschool Teacher AideTA (Teacher Assistant)Bilingual Teacher AideEducation ParaprofessionalParaprofessional AideSchool ParaprofessionalTeacher's Assistant+1 more

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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$24K–$50K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
1.5M
U.S. Employment

How Test Grader pay & employment are changing

$74K$72K$69K$67K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionSpeakingService OrientationCoordinationLearning StrategiesMonitoringWritingInstructing
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
25-9042.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midEducational Assistant$36KmidGifted and Talented Student Education Aide$36KmidElementary Teacher Assistant$36KmidExam Grader (Examination Grader)$36KmidPreschool Aide$36KmidExam Proctor (Examination Proctor)$36K
View all Education roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Test Grader

What does a Test Grader do?

A Test Grader evaluates student exams or assessments — applying rubrics consistently, scoring at scale, and providing the assessment data instructors and institutions rely on.

How much does a Test Grader make?

Median pay for a Test Grader is about $36K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $24K to $50K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Test Grader need?

Core skills for this role include Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, and Service Orientation.

What education do you need to be a Test Grader?

Most people in this role hold a high school diploma.

What jobs are similar to a Test Grader?

Closely related roles include Educational Assistant, Gifted and Talented Student Education Aide, and Elementary Teacher Assistant.

Career advice

Test Grader career advice

Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.

  • ConversationLearn how your manager likes to work, so the everyday stuff stops getting in the way.Ask how your manager likes to work
  • WorksheetUnderstand how a colleague communicates, and ask in a way that lands.Notice where your styles differ
  • Simple exerciseLook at the steps up and sideways from your job, and find one you'd be excited to do.Walk the roles next to yours
  • Simple exerciseName what matters most to you at work, and see honestly where your job fits.Check your job against what matters to you

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More career advice

  • Work through a problem side by side
  • Make it answerable in one reply
  • Use the benefits you already have
  • Leave so you can actually unplug
  • Understand how ratings get decided
  • Learn the unwritten rules
  • Track your applications in one place
  • Lead with the bottom line

We believe careers grow through small steps taken often, more than big leaps. So we’ve collected hundreds of them for you to try.

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.

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