Physics Teacher, Postsecondary Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$100,310
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$48.23
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$177,850
entry level starts ~$60,200
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 13,000 employed

How much does a Physics Teacher, Postsecondary make?

A Physics Teacher, Postsecondary earns a median annual salary of $100,310 in the United States, which works out to roughly $48.23 per hour for full-time work. Most Physics Teachers, Postsecondary earn between $60,200 at the entry level and $177,850 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $74,050 and $132,650 a year.

That is $38,920 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Physics Teacher, Postsecondary salary range by percentile

Half of all Physics Teachers, Postsecondary earn between $74,050 and $132,650 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$60,200$28.94
25th percentile (early career)$74,050$35.60
50th percentile (median)$100,310$48.23
75th percentile (experienced)$132,650$63.77
90th percentile (top earners)$177,850$85.50

Highest-paying states for Physics Teacher, Postsecondary

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Physics Teacher, Postsecondary pay at $139,420 a year, followed by Connecticut ($112,410) and Massachusetts ($111,280). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $64,900 — a gap of $74,520 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$139,420$67.03+39%
2Connecticut$112,410$54.04+12%
3Massachusetts$111,280$53.50+11%
4Maryland$110,980$53.36+11%
5Michigan$109,090$52.45+9%

Workforce and education

About 13,000 people work as Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $111,460 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Physics Teacher, Postsecondary make in the United States?
The median Physics Teacher, Postsecondary salary in the United States is $100,310 per year, or about $48.23 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $60,200, while the top 10% of earners make $177,850 or more.
How does Physics Teacher, Postsecondary pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Physics Teacher, Postsecondary median of $100,310 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Physics Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $139,420 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Physics Teacher, Postsecondary?
Becoming a Physics Teacher, Postsecondary typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Physics Teachers, Postsecondary work in the United States?
About 13,000 people were employed as Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Chemistry Teacher, Postsecondary

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.