Economics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in the U.S.
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary in the U.S. earn a median of $123,920 a year, based on BLS data for 11,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $224,200 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $138,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economics teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,060 |
| 25th percentile | $86,840 |
| Median | $123,920 |
| 75th percentile | $168,770 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $224,200 |
| Average (mean) | $138,850 |
Half of economics teachers, postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,326.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,163.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,766.15 |
| Weekly | $2,383.08 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because economics teachers, postsecondary are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $201,610 | 80 |
| Massachusetts | $164,410 | 750 |
| District of Columbia | $161,860 | 220 |
| Connecticut | $155,950 | 300 |
| California | $137,360 | 770 |
| Arizona | $137,250 | 100 |
| Oregon | $136,450 | 180 |
| Vermont | $134,850 | 80 |
| Maryland | $133,540 | 200 |
| Louisiana | $132,670 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $130,980 | 90 |
| Michigan | $129,400 | 350 |
| Virginia | $128,790 | 460 |
| Utah | $128,370 | 150 |
| New York | $127,500 | 1,240 |
| Maine | $125,960 | 70 |
| Illinois | $124,850 | 460 |
| Texas | $118,530 | 770 |
| Pennsylvania | $117,970 | 610 |
| Georgia | $117,600 | 370 |
| Missouri | $116,530 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $114,200 | 490 |
| New Mexico | $110,020 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $109,880 | 410 |
| South Carolina | $109,060 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $108,460 | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $107,260 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $106,250 | 120 |
| Ohio | $105,930 | 410 |
| Indiana | $105,390 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $104,560 | 250 |
| Kansas | $103,490 | 130 |
| Alabama | $101,250 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $99,970 | 310 |
| Colorado | $98,870 | 270 |
| Washington | $96,500 | 190 |
| West Virginia | $91,170 | 40 |
| Florida | $91,140 | 150 |
| Mississippi | $88,290 | 70 |
| South Dakota | $85,700 | 40 |
| Iowa | $85,090 | 80 |
| Arkansas | $76,610 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for economics teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $220,690 | 30 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $219,160 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $203,720 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $202,030 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $194,520 | 40 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $185,830 | 70 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $174,910 | 530 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $164,050 | 90 |
| Knoxville, TN | $162,850 | 30 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $155,060 | 360 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $152,390 | n/a |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $140,700 | 80 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $140,360 | 110 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $138,460 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $137,740 | 250 |
Metro areas with the most economics teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 930 | $132,140 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 530 | $174,910 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 360 | $155,060 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 290 | $127,430 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 260 | $124,360 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 250 | $137,740 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 230 | $133,460 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 170 | $103,430 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 160 | $104,520 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 150 | $112,370 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 140 | $121,210 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 130 | $129,910 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 130 | $133,520 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 120 | $99,950 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 110 | $140,360 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1063. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a economics teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The median salary for economics teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $123,920 a year. Pay ranges from $64,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $224,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economics teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of economics teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. earn at least $224,200 a year. The top 25% earn $168,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for economics teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,060 a year, and a quarter of economics teachers, postsecondary earn $86,840 or less.
How many economics teachers, postsecondary work in the U.S.?
About 11,560 economics teachers, postsecondary are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.