Computer science teachers, postsecondary salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,460 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $96,980 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $104,420 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $170,200 | 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
Computer 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 | $92,640 | $56,310 | $159,600 | 500 | 1.04 |
| Arizona | $84,050 | $71,240 | $157,530 | 700 | 0.95 |
| Arkansas | $56,180 | $23,500 | $98,540 | 160 | 0.55 |
| California | $128,210 | $60,850 | $225,640 | 2,480 | 0.6 |
| Colorado | $80,530 | $30,800 | $139,900 | 920 | 1.41 |
| Connecticut | $106,290 | $60,950 | $167,540 | 390 | 1.02 |
| Delaware | $102,080 | $60,340 | $162,570 | 120 | 1.13 |
| District of Columbia | $101,380 | $66,190 | $166,170 | 210 | 1.3 |
| Florida | $76,950 | $50,520 | $106,370 | 950 | 0.42 |
| Georgia | $98,030 | $15,080 | $172,850 | 1,160 | 1.04 |
| Idaho | Data unavailable | 120 | 0.59 | ||
| Illinois | $98,750 | $42,860 | $165,810 | 1,540 | 1.11 |
| Indiana | $102,660 | $60,800 | $173,770 | 1,240 | 1.7 |
| Iowa | $89,510 | $61,450 | $157,790 | 290 | 0.82 |
| Kansas | $67,400 | $30,360 | $170,660 | 260 | 0.79 |
| Kentucky | $83,470 | $46,680 | $139,570 | 310 | 0.67 |
| Louisiana | $77,530 | $51,120 | $154,840 | 200 | 0.45 |
| Maine | $99,730 | $60,870 | $161,560 | 120 | 0.79 |
| Maryland | $98,850 | $31,760 | $180,340 | 830 | 1.32 |
| Massachusetts | $128,030 | $66,120 | $208,700 | 1,490 | 1.79 |
| Michigan | $107,690 | $60,920 | $176,080 | 810 | 0.81 |
| Minnesota | $85,710 | $63,010 | $132,670 | 480 | 0.71 |
| Mississippi | $75,520 | $48,860 | $143,160 | 160 | 0.59 |
| Missouri | $90,770 | $53,990 | $162,330 | 510 | 0.76 |
| Montana | $81,560 | $45,490 | $163,930 | 60 | 0.5 |
| Nebraska | $94,360 | $49,160 | $162,290 | 260 | 1.11 |
| Nevada | $106,640 | $60,650 | $181,670 | 140 | 0.39 |
| New Hampshire | $83,630 | $64,730 | $160,470 | 210 | 1.34 |
| New Jersey | $81,500 | $32,220 | $176,830 | 1,440 | 1.48 |
| New Mexico | $79,440 | $56,150 | $156,260 | 200 | 1 |
| New York | $96,450 | $51,180 | $170,200 | 3,170 | 1.44 |
| North Carolina | $80,080 | $45,270 | $135,900 | 1,650 | 1.46 |
| North Dakota | $81,400 | $55,840 | $172,000 | 90 | 0.87 |
| Ohio | $91,230 | $39,390 | $160,060 | 1,180 | 0.93 |
| Oklahoma | $76,570 | $37,030 | $137,100 | 210 | 0.55 |
| Oregon | $107,310 | $62,240 | $198,650 | 530 | 1.17 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,500 | $37,000 | $153,860 | 1,520 | 1.1 |
| Puerto Rico | $75,050 | $34,170 | $134,150 | 230 | 1.07 |
| Rhode Island | $100,790 | $60,770 | $161,420 | 160 | 1.4 |
| South Carolina | $78,240 | $56,790 | $146,070 | 380 | 0.73 |
| South Dakota | $75,540 | $52,040 | $106,900 | 150 | 1.41 |
| Tennessee | $81,600 | $60,930 | $166,310 | 560 | 0.75 |
| Texas | $97,480 | $47,960 | $161,040 | 3,540 | 1.1 |
| Utah | $124,460 | $67,070 | $163,860 | 550 | 1.38 |
| Vermont | $94,930 | $65,440 | $161,390 | 110 | 1.6 |
| Virginia | $106,780 | $54,950 | $200,140 | 1,670 | 1.78 |
| Washington | $90,950 | $57,370 | $168,390 | 800 | 0.99 |
| West Virginia | $73,880 | $49,880 | $128,240 | 270 | 1.69 |
| Wisconsin | $97,730 | $73,660 | $167,710 | 510 | 0.76 |
| Wyoming | $63,900 | $44,710 | $94,750 | 40 | 0.63 |
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 computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,200. 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 computer 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
- Computer and Information Sciences, General CIP 11.0101
- Artificial Intelligence CIP 11.0102
- Computer and Information Sciences, Other CIP 11.0199
- Computer Programming/Programmer, General CIP 11.0201
- Information Science/Studies CIP 11.0401
- Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst CIP 11.0501
- Computer Science CIP 11.0701
- Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation CIP 11.0804
- Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications CIP 11.0901
- Cloud Computing CIP 11.0902
- Computer Teacher Education CIP 13.1321
- Mathematics and Computer Science CIP 30.0801
- Accounting and Computer Science CIP 30.1601
- Computational Science CIP 30.3001
- Human Computer Interaction CIP 30.3101
- Economics and Computer Science CIP 30.3901
- Linguistics and Computer Science CIP 30.4801
- Management Information Systems, General CIP 52.1201
- Information Resources Management CIP 52.1206
- Knowledge Management CIP 52.1207
- Management Information Systems and Services, Other CIP 52.1299
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as programming, data structures, and software design.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- 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, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Technology skills
- C++ (in demand)
- Oracle Java (in demand)
- Python (in demand)
- Learning management system LMS (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- C (hot technology)
- C# (hot technology)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visual Basic (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation.
Common job titles: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems Instructor (CIS Instructor), Computer Science Instructor, Computer Science Professor, Faculty Member, Information Technology Instructor (IT Instructor), Instructor, Lecturer, 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 computer science teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median annual wage for computer science teachers, postsecondary was $96,980 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $49,460 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $170,200. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do computer 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 computer science teachers, postsecondary a growing career?
BLS projects employment of computer science teachers, postsecondary to change +4.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay computer science teachers, postsecondary the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($128,210), Massachusetts ($128,030), Utah ($124,460). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.