Biological science teachers, postsecondary salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,150 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $84,620 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $102,840 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $169,900 | 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
Biological science teachers, postsecondary pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $77,540 | $49,800 | $161,460 | 1,160 | 1.7 |
| Arizona | $83,030 | $62,760 | $169,900 | ||
| Arkansas | $77,670 | $34,860 | $129,250 | 430 | 1.03 |
| California | $129,150 | $75,280 | $250,700 | 3,610 | 0.61 |
| Colorado | $98,680 | $47,720 | $157,300 | 810 | 0.87 |
| Connecticut | $96,470 | $61,330 | $200,720 | 870 | 1.59 |
| Delaware | $101,380 | $63,780 | $161,320 | 130 | 0.84 |
| District of Columbia | $96,830 | $61,920 | $206,510 | 350 | 1.53 |
| Florida | $57,140 | $51,670 | $92,580 | 2,020 | 0.63 |
| Georgia | $88,020 | $55,840 | $170,430 | 980 | 0.62 |
| Idaho | $81,620 | $50,670 | $136,380 | 220 | 0.79 |
| Illinois | $99,060 | $47,340 | $207,930 | 2,340 | 1.19 |
| Indiana | $83,130 | $56,070 | $163,900 | 1,100 | 1.07 |
| Iowa | $78,060 | $59,130 | $167,300 | 540 | 1.08 |
| Kansas | $81,300 | $54,220 | $135,550 | 430 | 0.92 |
| Kentucky | $70,630 | $46,330 | $132,940 | 470 | 0.72 |
| Louisiana | $79,010 | $55,710 | $167,040 | 390 | 0.63 |
| Maine | $84,080 | $58,610 | $159,880 | 270 | 1.3 |
| Maryland | $83,500 | $48,530 | $165,040 | 970 | 1.09 |
| Massachusetts | $105,050 | $64,180 | $296,440 | 2,060 | 1.75 |
| Michigan | $103,620 | $61,290 | $173,750 | 1,460 | 1.03 |
| Minnesota | $96,880 | $65,360 | $163,920 | 780 | 0.82 |
| Mississippi | $66,830 | $46,250 | $129,060 | 580 | 1.54 |
| Missouri | $80,970 | $52,700 | $174,850 | 1,060 | 1.12 |
| Montana | $100,480 | $64,120 | $158,670 | 110 | 0.69 |
| Nebraska | $81,190 | $58,680 | $167,530 | 500 | 1.51 |
| Nevada | $85,040 | $64,630 | $123,880 | 350 | 0.7 |
| New Hampshire | $102,410 | $65,910 | $205,070 | 170 | 0.79 |
| New Jersey | $79,540 | $32,220 | $165,620 | 1,570 | 1.14 |
| New Mexico | $98,820 | $62,510 | $147,510 | 150 | 0.52 |
| New York | $98,180 | $56,520 | $205,870 | 3,870 | 1.24 |
| North Carolina | $77,700 | $51,490 | $136,020 | 1,960 | 1.23 |
| North Dakota | $90,740 | $49,020 | $135,380 | 170 | 1.21 |
| Ohio | $79,600 | $46,940 | $126,400 | 1,350 | 0.75 |
| Oklahoma | $65,960 | $38,170 | $106,110 | 470 | 0.85 |
| Oregon | $100,820 | $61,270 | $165,440 | 800 | 1.25 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,970 | $57,810 | $130,330 | 2,410 | 1.23 |
| Puerto Rico | $84,590 | $58,610 | $112,540 | 340 | 1.11 |
| Rhode Island | $102,300 | $60,950 | $166,050 | 250 | 1.55 |
| South Carolina | $82,300 | $53,360 | $150,920 | 750 | 1 |
| South Dakota | $76,570 | $58,490 | $126,370 | 160 | 1.1 |
| Tennessee | $78,940 | $53,170 | $135,990 | 830 | 0.79 |
| Texas | $82,470 | $50,320 | $159,210 | 3,840 | 0.85 |
| Utah | $81,580 | $39,320 | $138,950 | 300 | 0.54 |
| Vermont | $82,230 | $61,730 | $129,810 | 170 | 1.78 |
| Virginia | $79,190 | $46,210 | $154,320 | 1,760 | 1.33 |
| Washington | $97,280 | $59,690 | $212,090 | 960 | 0.84 |
| West Virginia | $67,190 | $47,950 | $123,830 | 220 | 0.97 |
| Wisconsin | $78,920 | $60,550 | $177,920 | 950 | 1 |
| Wyoming | $82,930 | $48,500 | $129,430 | 160 | 1.71 |
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 biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.2%.
- 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 biological science 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
- Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education CIP 13.1316
- Biology Teacher Education CIP 13.1322
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General CIP 26.0101
- Biomedical Sciences, General CIP 26.0102
- Biochemistry CIP 26.0202
- Biophysics CIP 26.0203
- Molecular Biology CIP 26.0204
- Molecular Biochemistry CIP 26.0205
- Molecular Biophysics CIP 26.0206
- Structural Biology CIP 26.0207
- Photobiology CIP 26.0208
- Radiation Biology/Radiobiology CIP 26.0209
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology CIP 26.0210
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other CIP 26.0299
- Botany/Plant Biology CIP 26.0301
- Plant Pathology/Phytopathology CIP 26.0305
- Plant Physiology CIP 26.0307
- Botany/Plant Biology, Other CIP 26.0399
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology CIP 26.0401
- Anatomy CIP 26.0403
- Developmental Biology and Embryology CIP 26.0404
- Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology CIP 26.0406
- Cell Biology and Anatomy CIP 26.0407
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other CIP 26.0499
- Microbiology, General CIP 26.0502
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology CIP 26.0503
- Virology CIP 26.0504
- Parasitology CIP 26.0505
- Mycology CIP 26.0506
- Immunology CIP 26.0507
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as molecular biology, marine biology, and botany.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Prepare materials for laboratory activities and course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Technology skills
- Learning management system LMS (in demand)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (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)
- SAS (hot technology)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- Aipotu
- Blackboard Learn
- Blackboard software
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Anatomy Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences Professor, Biology Instructor, Biology Professor, Instructor, Lecturer, Physiology Instructor, 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 biological science teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median annual wage for biological science teachers, postsecondary was $84,620 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $52,150 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $169,900. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do biological science 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 biological science teachers, postsecondary a growing career?
BLS projects employment of biological science teachers, postsecondary to change +7.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay biological science teachers, postsecondary the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($129,150), Massachusetts ($105,050), Michigan ($103,620). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.