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

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

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$98,070
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$47.15
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$174,660
entry level starts ~$56,450
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 17,000 employed

How much does a Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary make?

A Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary earns a median annual salary of $98,070 in the United States, which works out to roughly $47.15 per hour for full-time work. Most Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn between $56,450 at the entry level and $174,660 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $73,260 and $129,130 a year.

That is $36,680 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary salary range by percentile

Half of all Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn between $73,260 and $129,130 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$56,450$27.14
25th percentile (early career)$73,260$35.22
50th percentile (median)$98,070$47.15
75th percentile (experienced)$129,130$62.08
90th percentile (top earners)$174,660$83.97

Highest-paying states for Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Massachusetts leads the country for Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary pay at $128,150 a year, followed by California ($124,890) and New Hampshire ($124,110). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $58,350 — a gap of $69,800 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Massachusetts$128,150$61.61+31%
2California$124,890$60.04+27%
3New Hampshire$124,110$59.67+27%
4Montana$109,050$52.43+11%
5Vermont$107,490$51.68+10%

Workforce and education

About 17,000 people work as Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $108,100 — 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 Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary make in the United States?
The median Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary salary in the United States is $98,070 per year, or about $47.15 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $56,450, while the top 10% of earners make $174,660 or more.
How does Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary median of $98,070 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
Massachusetts is the highest-paying state for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $128,150 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary?
Becoming a Political Science 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 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary work in the United States?
About 17,000 people were employed as Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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$63,820
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Health Specialty Teachers, Postsecondary

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Special Education Teacher, Middle School

$66,810
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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.