Education Teachers, Postsecondary Salary 2025: $75,350 Median, 2% Growth
Postsecondary education teachers—who train future educators at colleges and universities—earned a median salary of $75,350 in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle 80% of these professors and instructors make between $39,530 and $126,860, with mean annual wages of $79,350, or about $36 per hour. About 60,830 people hold this occupation nationwide.
How much Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn
The national median salary for postsecondary education teachers is $75,350. Wages vary widely: the highest-paid 10% earn over $126,860, while the lowest-paid 10% make less than $39,530. The mean hourly wage is $36. These figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Pay depends on factors like institution type (research university vs. community college), academic rank (professor vs. lecturer), tenure status, and geographic region.
Pay by state
Location significantly impacts earnings. The highest-paying state is California, where the average annual wage for education teachers, postsecondary reaches $111,850. Other top-paying states include Louisiana ($83,710), New York ($82,020), District of Columbia ($80,810), and Connecticut ($80,620).
At the lower end, Oklahoma averages $60,880, Hawaii $49,800, and New Hampshire $49,250. State-level cost of living and funding for higher education drive these differences.
How to become Education Teachers, Postsecondary
To become a postsecondary education teacher, you typically need a doctoral degree in education or a closely related field. However, master's degrees may suffice for some community college and instructor positions.
Most jobs require teaching experience, often gained as a graduate teaching assistant during doctoral studies. Research universities also expect a record of published scholarship. Licensure is not usually required for these roles, but public universities may prefer candidates with state teaching credentials for programs that lead to K-12 certification.
- Earn a Ph.D. or Ed.D. in education, curriculum and instruction, or educational leadership.
- Gain teaching experience as a graduate assistant or adjunct instructor.
- Publish research in academic journals for tenure-track positions at universities.
- Consider a master's degree to teach at community colleges or as a lecturer.
Job outlook
Employment of postsecondary education teachers is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. This translates to roughly 5,600 job openings each year over the decade, mostly due to retirements and turnover.
Growth will be driven by continued enrollment in teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities, though slower overall higher-education expansion may temper demand compared to other teaching occupations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical salary for a postsecondary education teacher?
The national median salary is $75,350 per year. The typical range runs from $39,530 (10th percentile) to $126,860 (90th percentile), according to the BLS.
How do I become a postsecondary education teacher?
Most positions require a doctoral degree in education, plus teaching experience (often as a graduate assistant). A master's degree may be enough for community college jobs.
Is the job outlook good for education teachers, postsecondary?
Employment is expected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, about average. About 5,600 openings per year will stem from retirements and turnover.
Which states pay the highest salaries?
California leads at $111,850 average annual wage, followed by Louisiana ($83,710), New York ($82,020), D.C. ($80,810), and Connecticut ($80,620).
Salary figures are U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates (OEWS / Employment Projections). For informational purposes only; not career or financial advice. See the full Education Teachers, Postsecondary data.