Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary salary in the U.S.
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary in the U.S. earn a median of $84,290 a year, based on BLS data for 11,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,140 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $96,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sociology teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,930 |
| 25th percentile | $64,990 |
| Median | $84,290 |
| 75th percentile | $110,650 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,140 |
| Average (mean) | $96,980 |
Half of sociology 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 | $7,024.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,512.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,241.92 |
| Weekly | $1,620.96 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because sociology 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.
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $127,680 | 810 |
| Delaware | $123,710 | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $112,890 | 40 |
| District of Columbia | $103,160 | 70 |
| Michigan | $102,870 | 370 |
| Oregon | $101,960 | 150 |
| Connecticut | $101,490 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $99,660 | 440 |
| Utah | $99,350 | 70 |
| New York | $97,540 | 1,130 |
| Massachusetts | $96,790 | 580 |
| Maryland | $95,980 | 200 |
| Vermont | $87,620 | 40 |
| Nevada | $87,480 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $87,340 | 240 |
| Wisconsin | $84,960 | 450 |
| Georgia | $84,330 | 230 |
| Idaho | $84,140 | 50 |
| Puerto Rico | $84,090 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $83,700 | 80 |
| Washington | $83,140 | 200 |
| Illinois | $82,610 | 440 |
| Iowa | $81,910 | 140 |
| Texas | $81,220 | 1,040 |
| Indiana | $79,880 | 290 |
| Ohio | $79,690 | 550 |
| Colorado | $78,630 | 220 |
| Kansas | $78,630 | 110 |
| Arizona | $78,430 | 230 |
| South Carolina | $78,410 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $78,350 | 550 |
| Virginia | $78,120 | 400 |
| Missouri | $77,800 | 100 |
| New Mexico | $77,740 | 50 |
| West Virginia | $77,380 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $77,370 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $76,430 | 550 |
| Nebraska | $76,230 | 70 |
| Maine | $76,010 | 80 |
| Montana | $75,880 | 30 |
| Alabama | $73,670 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $70,860 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $64,900 | 120 |
| South Dakota | $64,210 | 40 |
| Florida | $63,470 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $62,390 | 30 |
| Kentucky | $61,260 | 150 |
Best-paying metro areas for sociology teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $157,630 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $141,950 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,930 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $132,640 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $128,010 | 280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $127,480 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $120,570 | 60 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $114,030 | 50 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $111,290 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $104,090 | 120 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $103,810 | 400 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $103,110 | 70 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $102,940 | 50 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $102,790 | n/a |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $102,330 | 150 |
Metro areas with the most sociology teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,020 | $99,850 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 400 | $103,810 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 310 | $86,040 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 280 | $128,010 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 210 | $95,620 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 200 | $97,580 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 190 | $86,800 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 180 | $98,500 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 150 | $102,330 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 150 | $94,380 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 150 | $87,340 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 140 | $92,340 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 130 | $100,710 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 120 | $99,800 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 120 | $104,090 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1067. 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 sociology teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The median salary for sociology teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $84,290 a year. Pay ranges from $49,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sociology teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of sociology teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. earn at least $160,140 a year. The top 25% earn $110,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for sociology teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,930 a year, and a quarter of sociology teachers, postsecondary earn $64,990 or less.
How many sociology teachers, postsecondary work in the U.S.?
About 11,850 sociology teachers, postsecondary are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.