Key facts
Quick overview
Pay and duties depend on the institution, role, funding and collective agreement where applicable.
How it works
Support a professor, lab or course with defined research or teaching tasks. Review course or lab requirements and ask about paid openings early.
Why students choose it
The work can build academic references and subject skills.
Advantages
Experience can support future applications in the same field.
What sucks about it
Openings are limited and work may peak during assessment periods.
How to get started
Prepare a concise resume, relevant coursework and a short note on your interests.
Where to find opportunities
Check department pages, faculty postings and your institution’s formal hiring portal.
What the data says
Category-specific official evidence: Job Bank reports a Canada-wide median of $27 per hour for university research assistants. Data period: 2023–2024. Job Bank: university research assistant wages in Canada. A student assistantship may follow a specific institution’s contract or pay scale.
Official data: There is no verified student-specific earnings figure for all research assistant / ta work. For employee roles, compare the relevant occupation and region using the Government of Canada Job Bank wage search. Its employee wages should not be treated as a guaranteed freelance or platform rate. For self-employed work, the Canada Revenue Agency explains how to report business income and expenses. These links were checked September 2026. No community report is used as earnings evidence here.
Red flags
Walk away from guaranteed income, upfront payment demands, or requests to move money through your bank account. The Competition Bureau outlines common job and employment scams.
Is it worth it?
Strong when the work aligns with your field and the hours are realistic for your course load. Compare the time spent finding work, unpaid preparation, transport, platform fees and taxes with the money actually received. Earnings are gross unless explicitly labelled otherwise; actual results depend on location, demand, experience, hours and expenses.
Related opportunities
Tutoring
Turn what you already know into income.
Campus jobs
Get paid without leaving campus.
Paid research studies
Get paid to participate in research.