Chemistry teachers, postsecondary salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $57,870 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $93,250 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $105,210 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $172,110 | 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
Chemistry 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 | $76,430 | $58,230 | $132,730 | 310 | 1.14 |
| Arizona | $103,790 | $66,050 | $157,720 | 210 | 0.52 |
| Arkansas | $64,720 | $45,110 | $87,200 | 110 | 0.64 |
| California | $132,960 | $78,450 | $278,510 | 1,650 | 0.71 |
| Colorado | $96,600 | $54,270 | $161,930 | 330 | 0.9 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 | $63,180 | $160,060 | 350 | 1.61 |
| Delaware | $104,610 | $79,960 | $206,950 | 80 | 1.34 |
| District of Columbia | $103,370 | $64,710 | $208,260 | 100 | 1.12 |
| Florida | $77,630 | $58,070 | $103,680 | 340 | 0.27 |
| Georgia | $85,300 | $53,570 | $168,570 | 500 | 0.79 |
| Idaho | Data unavailable | 60 | 0.52 | ||
| Illinois | $97,860 | $50,240 | $160,620 | 880 | 1.12 |
| Indiana | $81,530 | $57,800 | $160,680 | 530 | 1.28 |
| Iowa | $82,050 | $61,090 | $154,290 | 230 | 1.12 |
| Kansas | $93,830 | $58,020 | $178,690 | 170 | 0.91 |
| Kentucky | $82,550 | $58,980 | $164,170 | 250 | 0.97 |
| Louisiana | $83,680 | $64,650 | $162,610 | 140 | 0.56 |
| Maine | $85,250 | $58,810 | $160,030 | 70 | 0.83 |
| Maryland | $101,530 | $62,720 | $172,220 | 310 | 0.87 |
| Massachusetts | $108,270 | $66,080 | $216,670 | 820 | 1.74 |
| Michigan | $101,030 | $53,670 | $181,960 | 560 | 0.99 |
| Minnesota | $104,380 | $66,560 | $210,350 | 430 | 1.14 |
| Mississippi | $66,420 | $44,340 | $125,100 | 130 | 0.88 |
| Missouri | $83,000 | $51,840 | $169,540 | 460 | 1.22 |
| Montana | $84,680 | $64,410 | $134,450 | 80 | 1.18 |
| Nebraska | $85,050 | $57,320 | $130,190 | 150 | 1.13 |
| Nevada | $101,640 | $65,720 | $173,850 | 60 | 0.32 |
| New Hampshire | $102,220 | $65,550 | $212,020 | 70 | 0.78 |
| New Jersey | $81,600 | $32,220 | $158,820 | 750 | 1.36 |
| New Mexico | $85,240 | $63,380 | $140,810 | 80 | 0.69 |
| New York | $99,880 | $61,710 | $199,220 | 1,840 | 1.47 |
| North Carolina | $78,620 | $52,190 | $134,210 | 900 | 1.42 |
| North Dakota | $111,020 | $51,740 | $172,240 | 60 | 1.03 |
| Ohio | $77,910 | $49,200 | $128,310 | 700 | 0.98 |
| Oklahoma | $64,450 | $42,120 | $116,240 | 220 | 1.01 |
| Oregon | $101,350 | $65,690 | $182,260 | 460 | 1.82 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,070 | $59,370 | $132,680 | 1,270 | 1.63 |
| Puerto Rico | $78,640 | $62,660 | $99,810 | 210 | 1.7 |
| Rhode Island | $100,920 | $59,670 | $183,750 | 110 | 1.7 |
| South Carolina | $81,200 | $52,120 | $160,250 | 270 | 0.91 |
| South Dakota | $75,810 | $58,020 | $123,190 | 70 | 1.15 |
| Tennessee | $79,150 | $59,730 | $137,280 | 370 | 0.89 |
| Texas | $81,810 | $55,480 | $160,430 | 1,470 | 0.82 |
| Utah | $102,110 | $64,850 | $162,180 | 200 | 0.88 |
| Vermont | $78,560 | $59,000 | $133,780 | 90 | 2.26 |
| Virginia | $80,330 | $52,540 | $139,460 | 760 | 1.44 |
| Washington | $85,970 | $58,540 | $127,710 | 390 | 0.85 |
| West Virginia | $81,830 | $59,200 | $142,030 | 90 | 0.94 |
| Wisconsin | $83,480 | $62,730 | $181,370 | 450 | 1.2 |
| Wyoming | $82,830 | $71,770 | $126,060 | 30 | 0.87 |
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 chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,700. 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 chemistry 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
- Chemistry Teacher Education CIP 13.1323
- Chemistry, General CIP 40.0501
- Analytical Chemistry CIP 40.0502
- Inorganic Chemistry CIP 40.0503
- Organic Chemistry CIP 40.0504
- Physical Chemistry CIP 40.0506
- Polymer Chemistry CIP 40.0507
- Chemical Physics CIP 40.0508
- Environmental Chemistry CIP 40.0509
- Forensic Chemistry CIP 40.0510
- Theoretical Chemistry CIP 40.0511
- Cheminformatics/Chemistry Informatics CIP 40.0512
- Chemistry, Other CIP 40.0599
- Geochemistry CIP 40.0602
- Materials Chemistry CIP 40.1002
- Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry CIP 51.2004
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
- Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
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 Word (hot technology)
- Auto3DEM
- Blackboard Learn
- CCP4
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- DOC Cop
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- Email software
- IHRSR++
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Systems Analysis, Coordination.
Common job titles: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Biochemistry Professor, Chemistry Faculty Member, Chemistry Instructor, Chemistry Professor, Instructor, Lecturer, Organic Chemistry Professor, 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median annual wage for chemistry teachers, postsecondary was $93,250 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $57,870 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $172,110. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do chemistry 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondary a growing career?
BLS projects employment of chemistry teachers, postsecondary to change +2.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay chemistry teachers, postsecondary the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($132,960), North Dakota ($111,020), Massachusetts ($108,270). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.