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

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

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$84,290
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$40.52
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$160,140
entry level starts ~$49,930
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 12,000 employed

How much does a Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary make?

A Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary earns a median annual salary of $84,290 in the United States, which works out to roughly $40.52 per hour for full-time work. Most Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary earn between $49,930 at the entry level and $160,140 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $64,990 and $110,650 a year.

That is $22,900 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary salary range by percentile

Half of all Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary earn between $64,990 and $110,650 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$49,930$24.00
25th percentile (early career)$64,990$31.25
50th percentile (median)$84,290$40.52
75th percentile (experienced)$110,650$53.20
90th percentile (top earners)$160,140$76.99

Highest-paying states for Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary pay at $127,680 a year, followed by Delaware ($123,710) and New Hampshire ($112,890). At the other end, Kentucky posts the lowest median at $61,260 — a gap of $66,420 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$127,680$61.38+51%
2Delaware$123,710$59.48+47%
3New Hampshire$112,890$54.27+34%
4District of Columbia$103,160$49.60+22%
5Michigan$102,870$49.46+22%

Workforce and education

About 12,000 people work as Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $96,980 — 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 Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary make in the United States?
The median Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary salary in the United States is $84,290 per year, or about $40.52 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $49,930, while the top 10% of earners make $160,140 or more.
How does Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary median of $84,290 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $127,680 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary?
Becoming a Sociology 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 Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary work in the United States?
About 12,000 people were employed as Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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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.