Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,070 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $85,020 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $98,330 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $160,420 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 38 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $63,090 | $47,690 | $101,820 | 50 | 0.3 |
| Alaska | $81,700 | $73,620 | $104,240 | 80 | 3.59 |
| Arizona | $75,680 | $62,540 | $106,770 | 240 | 1.02 |
| California | $105,220 | $67,020 | $191,720 | 770 | 0.59 |
| Colorado | $79,190 | $50,700 | $121,100 | 160 | 0.77 |
| Connecticut | $99,900 | $62,000 | $207,640 | 310 | 2.55 |
| District of Columbia | $101,700 | $65,050 | $224,380 | 230 | 4.6 |
| Florida | $66,520 | $48,210 | $130,980 | 120 | 0.17 |
| Georgia | $77,630 | $48,880 | $131,290 | 450 | 1.28 |
| Illinois | $90,030 | $48,540 | $138,010 | 220 | 0.5 |
| Indiana | $84,970 | $52,070 | $138,330 | 260 | 1.14 |
| Kansas | $107,120 | $54,770 | $213,350 | 90 | 0.85 |
| Kentucky | $74,690 | $16,410 | $133,380 | 90 | 0.63 |
| Maine | $103,060 | $59,630 | $159,710 | 50 | 1.06 |
| Maryland | $91,330 | $53,110 | $164,040 | 520 | 2.6 |
| Massachusetts | $100,470 | $66,470 | $170,300 | 610 | 2.31 |
| Michigan | $87,840 | $63,730 | $158,380 | 460 | 1.45 |
| Minnesota | $81,580 | $60,700 | $156,540 | 280 | 1.32 |
| Montana | $78,690 | $48,110 | $127,080 | 90 | 2.38 |
| New Hampshire | $125,450 | $64,640 | $211,080 | 80 | 1.65 |
| New Jersey | $97,500 | $53,190 | $175,970 | 480 | 1.54 |
| New York | $101,800 | $64,330 | $203,590 | 1,520 | 2.16 |
| North Carolina | $66,470 | $45,470 | $110,650 | 590 | 1.65 |
| Ohio | $80,060 | $49,990 | $131,180 | 390 | 0.96 |
| Oklahoma | $76,600 | $19,190 | $133,090 | 50 | 0.39 |
| Oregon | $80,310 | $48,200 | $135,840 | 340 | 2.35 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,010 | $46,340 | $132,230 | 260 | 0.58 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,660 | $41,480 | $137,180 | ||
| Rhode Island | $104,460 | $60,790 | $217,050 | ||
| South Carolina | $64,500 | $51,490 | $90,180 | 130 | 0.8 |
| Tennessee | $75,060 | $54,460 | $136,320 | 60 | 0.26 |
| Texas | $72,250 | $44,680 | $132,950 | 830 | 0.81 |
| Utah | $82,990 | $59,310 | $125,070 | 40 | 0.31 |
| Virginia | $85,960 | $55,010 | $136,740 | 300 | 1 |
| Washington | $81,410 | $50,230 | $128,400 | 240 | 0.94 |
| West Virginia | $71,200 | $56,240 | $99,690 | 40 | 0.7 |
| Wisconsin | $78,770 | $50,890 | $136,520 | 180 | 0.85 |
| Wyoming | $76,170 | $50,640 | $125,200 | 40 | 1.99 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- African Studies CIP 05.0101
- American/United States Studies/Civilization CIP 05.0102
- Asian Studies/Civilization CIP 05.0103
- East Asian Studies CIP 05.0104
- Russian, Central European, East European and Eurasian Studies CIP 05.0105
- European Studies/Civilization CIP 05.0106
- Latin American Studies CIP 05.0107
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies CIP 05.0108
- Pacific Area/Pacific Rim Studies CIP 05.0109
- Russian Studies CIP 05.0110
- Scandinavian Studies CIP 05.0111
- South Asian Studies CIP 05.0112
- Southeast Asian Studies CIP 05.0113
- Western European Studies CIP 05.0114
- Canadian Studies CIP 05.0115
- Balkans Studies CIP 05.0116
- Baltic Studies CIP 05.0117
- Slavic Studies CIP 05.0118
- Caribbean Studies CIP 05.0119
- Ural-Altaic and Central Asian Studies CIP 05.0120
- Commonwealth Studies CIP 05.0121
- Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) CIP 05.0122
- Chinese Studies CIP 05.0123
- French Studies CIP 05.0124
- German Studies CIP 05.0125
- Italian Studies CIP 05.0126
- Japanese Studies CIP 05.0127
- Korean Studies CIP 05.0128
- Polish Studies CIP 05.0129
- Spanish and Iberian Studies CIP 05.0130
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Technology skills
- Learning management system LMS (in demand)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Blackboard Learn
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- DOC Cop
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- Email software
- FileMaker Pro
- Google Drive
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Adjunct Professor, American Studies Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Black Studies Professor, Ethnic Studies Professor, Humanities Professor, Lecturer, Professor, Women's Studies Professor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median annual wage for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary was $85,020 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $52,070 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $160,420. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary a growing career?
BLS projects employment of area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary to change +2.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Hampshire ($125,450), Kansas ($107,120), California ($105,220). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.