Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Salary

The median postsecondary teachers, all other salary in the United States is $77,640 per year. Salaries range from $44,300 at the entry level to $160,700+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 149,840 postsecondary teachers, all other jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.8% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asProfessorCollege ProfessorAdjunct ProfessorAssistant ProfessorLecturer
Median Salary
$77,640
per year
Employment
149,840
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$44,300
25th percentile
$59,290
Median
$77,640
75th percentile
$106,770
90th percentile
$160,700

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+1.8%
Slower than average

Annual Openings

13,500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Doctoral or professional degree

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for postsecondary teachers, all others.

Postsecondary teachers (all other) teach at community colleges + trade schools + non-tenure track positions in specialty subjects. Adjunct instructors $28-52k (per-course); full-time community college faculty $55-95k; senior + tenured $75-145k; specialty (nursing + tech + trades) $85-135k+; department chairs $115-175k. PSLF + pension at public institutions. Growth: technical + healthcare + workforce development specialties driving demand.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Subject matter expertise
Deep content in your specialty area β€” practical + applicable to student career paths.
Course design + curriculum
Backward design + Bloom's taxonomy + assessment alignment + accreditation compliance.
Instructional delivery
Lecture + discussion + hands-on lab + online/hybrid modalities. Adult learning principles.
Assessment + evaluation
Formative + summative + rubrics + program outcomes + accreditation reporting.
LMS + technology
Canvas + Blackboard + Moodle + specialized tools. Online + hybrid delivery skills increasingly required.
Student support + retention
Advising + tutoring + at-risk identification + intervention + persistence + completion focus.
Industry connection + workforce alignment
Advisory boards + employer partnerships + internship coordination + curriculum currency.

How to Become a Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

  1. 1
    Get master's in your subject area
    Master's required for most postsecondary teaching. Doctorate for tenure-track (rare in this category).
  2. 2
    Build teaching experience
    TA during grad school + adjunct at community college + industry-adjacent training role.
  3. 3
    Land adjunct position
    Per-course pay $2,500-6,500 typical. Build portfolio + relationships + evaluations.
  4. 4
    Apply for full-time positions
    Community college + trade school + non-tenure. Look for high-demand programs (nursing + IT + skilled trades).
  5. 5
    Specialize or move to department leadership
    Program Director + Department Chair + Dean paths at 8-15 years. Or maintain teaching focus.

Career Progression

Adjunct Instructor
0-3 yrs$28-52k (per-course + limited)
  • β€’Teach 1-4 courses
  • β€’Course prep + grading
  • β€’Office hours limited
  • β€’No benefits typically
Next: Full-time Faculty at 2-4 years.
Full-Time Faculty / Instructor
3-8 yrs$55-88k + benefits
  • β€’Teach 4-5 courses/semester
  • β€’Advising + committees
  • β€’Curriculum development
  • β€’Some scholarly activity
Next: Senior Faculty at 8-12 years.
Senior Faculty / Program Coordinator
8-15 yrs$78-125k + differentials
  • β€’Lead program area
  • β€’Mentor junior faculty
  • β€’Grant + program development
  • β€’Accreditation reporting
Next: Department Chair at 12-18 years.
Department Chair / Dean
15+ yrs$105-175k+ + admin premium
  • β€’Department leadership
  • β€’Budget + hiring
  • β€’Program strategy
  • β€’External relationships
Next: Dean + VP Academic Affairs.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 15 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through a course you'd teach.technical
Learning outcomes + backward design + weekly plan + assessments + student engagement + inclusion + technology integration.
Q2. How do you handle a student who's struggling?situational
Early identification + one-on-one + specific interventions + campus resources + follow-up + document.
Q3. Describe your teaching philosophy.culture
Student-centered + practical + industry-aligned + inclusive + evidence-based practices + continuous improvement.
Q4. How do you keep curriculum current?situational
Industry advisory + literature + conferences + practitioner partnerships + regular review cycle.
Q5. Where do you see career in 5 years?closer
Full-time faculty + program leadership + specialty growth + potentially department chair path.

Resume Template β€” Adjunct Instructor (0-3 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Adjunct Instructor (0-3 yrs)
  • β–ΈTaught 4 sections/semester of [subject] at 2 community colleges β€” avg course eval 4.6/5.0 across 240 students.
  • β–ΈRedesigned [course] curriculum aligning with industry advisory board β€” retention improved 18%.
  • β–ΈCoordinated field placements for 32 students at 8 industry partners with 90% employment placement rate.
  • β–ΈEarned advanced grad certificates + published 2 practitioner articles + presented at regional conference.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Weak content knowledge.
  • βœ—Poor teaching evaluations.
  • βœ—Cant work with diverse students.
  • βœ—No curriculum development or industry engagement.
  • βœ—Weak technology + LMS proficiency.
  • βœ—No growth mindset or scholarship activity.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Full-time position vs adjunct = major pay + benefits jump.
  • βœ“PSLF at public + non-profit institutions.
  • βœ“High-demand programs (nursing + IT + trades) pay premium.
  • βœ“Department chair + admin stipend = $8-25k premium.
  • βœ“Grant writing + external funding = negotiation leverage.
  • βœ“Publications + industry credentials = advancement leverage.
  • βœ“Sign-on: $2-8k common for full-time positions.

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  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
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Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$47K
$101Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Delaware
$101K
+30%
California
$101K
+30%
Massachusetts
$94K
+22%
New Jersey
$85K
+10%
Oklahoma
$85K
+9%
Minnesota
$84K
+9%
Virginia
$84K
+8%
Colorado
$83K
+7%
Maryland
$83K
+7%
New Hampshire
$80K
+3%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Delaware$101,070+30.2%
California$100,690+29.7%
Massachusetts$94,480+21.7%
New Jersey$85,260+9.8%
Oklahoma$84,550+8.9%
Minnesota$84,280+8.6%
Virginia$84,060+8.3%
Colorado$83,210+7.2%
Maryland$82,850+6.7%
New Hampshire$79,980+3.0%
1–10 of 48

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$135,060+74.0%
Santa Fe, NM$115,000+48.1%
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA$113,550+46.3%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$105,640+36.1%
Modesto, CA$104,890+35.1%
Madison, WI$104,760+34.9%
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$103,680+33.5%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$103,340+33.1%
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$101,820+31.1%
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$100,550+29.5%
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Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A postsecondary teachers, all other earning $77,640/year would need 768 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 824 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how postsecondary teachers, all other salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Postsecondary Teachers, All Other salary trend (2011–2024) β†’