Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in the U.S.
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in the U.S. earn a median of $100,310 a year, based on BLS data for 13,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $177,850 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $111,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physics teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,200 |
| 25th percentile | $74,050 |
| Median | $100,310 |
| 75th percentile | $132,650 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $177,850 |
| Average (mean) | $111,460 |
Half of physics 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 | $8,359.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,179.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,858.08 |
| Weekly | $1,929.04 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because physics 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.
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $139,420 | 1,130 |
| Connecticut | $112,410 | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $111,280 | 680 |
| Maryland | $110,980 | 300 |
| Michigan | $109,090 | 460 |
| New Mexico | $108,850 | 70 |
| Delaware | $108,810 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $107,240 | 250 |
| Idaho | $106,040 | 50 |
| Virginia | $104,490 | 610 |
| Oregon | $104,320 | 230 |
| Iowa | $104,270 | 120 |
| Maine | $104,270 | 60 |
| New York | $103,100 | 1,080 |
| Indiana | $102,970 | 270 |
| North Dakota | $101,700 | 40 |
| Georgia | $101,580 | 210 |
| Missouri | $99,970 | 230 |
| Utah | $99,860 | 120 |
| Colorado | $99,280 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $99,050 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $98,920 | 530 |
| Nebraska | $98,460 | 70 |
| Vermont | $98,390 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,370 | 580 |
| West Virginia | $98,320 | 50 |
| Montana | $98,050 | 70 |
| Texas | $97,760 | 1,110 |
| Kansas | $97,140 | 110 |
| Washington | $96,930 | 310 |
| Nevada | $96,330 | 90 |
| Ohio | $96,310 | 420 |
| Illinois | $94,900 | 540 |
| Oklahoma | $91,580 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $90,040 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $89,630 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $87,370 | 440 |
| South Dakota | $86,010 | 30 |
| District of Columbia | $85,190 | 130 |
| Puerto Rico | $83,830 | 80 |
| Alabama | $82,750 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $81,210 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $80,630 | 340 |
| Kentucky | $80,270 | 160 |
| Florida | $74,050 | 180 |
| Mississippi | $71,160 | 100 |
| Arizona | $65,730 | 350 |
| Arkansas | $64,900 | 30 |
Best-paying metro areas for physics teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $172,510 | 440 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $167,090 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $152,190 | 120 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $141,400 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $139,400 | 60 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $138,980 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $133,360 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $132,790 | 80 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $130,310 | 160 |
| Lincoln, NE | $128,750 | 50 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $128,640 | 510 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $114,880 | 60 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $114,590 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $111,460 | 160 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $108,070 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most physics teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 870 | $104,690 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 510 | $128,640 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 440 | $172,510 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 340 | $95,430 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 330 | $83,830 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 290 | $103,750 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 230 | $99,480 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 220 | $100,430 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 200 | $98,060 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 170 | $107,410 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 170 | $99,650 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 160 | $130,310 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 160 | $73,940 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 160 | $111,460 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 150 | $91,620 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1054. 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 physics teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The median salary for physics teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $100,310 a year. Pay ranges from $60,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $177,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physics teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of physics teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. earn at least $177,850 a year. The top 25% earn $132,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for physics teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,200 a year, and a quarter of physics teachers, postsecondary earn $74,050 or less.
How many physics teachers, postsecondary work in the U.S.?
About 13,090 physics teachers, postsecondary are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.