Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary salary in the U.S.
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary in the U.S. earn a median of $80,260 a year, based on BLS data for 20,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,580 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $92,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,140 |
| 25th percentile | $62,600 |
| Median | $80,260 |
| 75th percentile | $104,770 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,580 |
| Average (mean) | $92,040 |
Half of philosophy and religion 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 | $6,688.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,344.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,086.92 |
| Weekly | $1,543.46 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because philosophy and religion 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.
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $105,820 | 1,850 |
| Maine | $102,760 | 60 |
| Vermont | $102,600 | 80 |
| Hawaii | $101,010 | 220 |
| Connecticut | $100,360 | 350 |
| New Jersey | $99,450 | 900 |
| Massachusetts | $98,360 | 890 |
| Utah | $95,410 | 60 |
| New York | $92,050 | 1,700 |
| Michigan | $89,610 | 620 |
| Virginia | $85,310 | 620 |
| Oregon | $85,300 | 480 |
| New Hampshire | $82,820 | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $82,510 | 150 |
| Washington | $81,240 | 330 |
| Indiana | $79,740 | 480 |
| Minnesota | $79,720 | 410 |
| District of Columbia | $79,310 | 290 |
| Wisconsin | $79,140 | 420 |
| Arizona | $78,940 | 350 |
| Maryland | $78,360 | 480 |
| Colorado | $78,060 | 390 |
| Illinois | $77,720 | 1,080 |
| Georgia | $77,570 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $77,230 | 250 |
| Iowa | $77,180 | 260 |
| Ohio | $77,010 | 780 |
| Texas | $76,700 | 1,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,600 | 1,280 |
| North Carolina | $76,340 | 680 |
| Louisiana | $76,310 | 70 |
| Missouri | $75,280 | 320 |
| Nebraska | $75,280 | 80 |
| Arkansas | $74,100 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $74,090 | 490 |
| North Dakota | $71,360 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $65,580 | 320 |
| Kansas | $65,410 | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $64,840 | 150 |
| Mississippi | $63,560 | 90 |
| Florida | $63,330 | 460 |
| Alabama | $62,210 | 280 |
| South Dakota | $58,000 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $123,650 | 120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $122,700 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $119,530 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $116,720 | 80 |
| Lawrence, KS | $105,820 | 30 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $105,520 | 70 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $103,440 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $103,320 | 670 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $103,140 | 130 |
| Ithaca, NY | $101,260 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $101,210 | 1,400 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $100,770 | 690 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $100,190 | 160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $100,140 | 370 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $98,920 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,400 | $101,210 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 830 | $78,930 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 690 | $100,770 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 670 | $103,320 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 550 | $77,870 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 510 | $79,310 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 410 | $76,730 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 370 | $100,140 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 360 | $74,330 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 340 | $85,300 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 330 | $77,890 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 300 | $78,730 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 300 | $79,250 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 250 | $78,750 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 250 | $80,560 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1126. 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 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The median salary for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $80,260 a year. Pay ranges from $49,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. earn at least $139,580 a year. The top 25% earn $104,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,140 a year, and a quarter of philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary earn $62,600 or less.
How many philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary work in the U.S.?
About 20,460 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.