Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,180 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $79,940 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $91,550 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $139,340 | 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
Mathematical 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 | $65,900 | $50,230 | $97,860 | 850 | 1.31 |
| Arizona | $71,230 | $61,220 | $99,460 | 680 | 0.68 |
| Arkansas | $54,340 | $37,250 | $77,860 | 290 | 0.72 |
| California | $130,680 | $77,570 | $226,560 | 3,810 | 0.68 |
| Colorado | $81,930 | $50,780 | $134,020 | 890 | 1.01 |
| Connecticut | $85,020 | $58,960 | $160,520 | 820 | 1.58 |
| Delaware | $101,510 | $61,060 | $154,180 | 130 | 0.84 |
| District of Columbia | $81,880 | $63,230 | $159,740 | 260 | 1.19 |
| Florida | $60,700 | $51,670 | $84,940 | 2,660 | 0.87 |
| Georgia | $66,440 | $40,020 | $108,500 | 1,100 | 0.73 |
| Idaho | Data unavailable | 200 | 0.76 | ||
| Illinois | $77,080 | $42,060 | $129,280 | 2,390 | 1.28 |
| Indiana | $78,780 | $50,490 | $133,480 | 1,100 | 1.12 |
| Iowa | $80,300 | $52,810 | $134,040 | 450 | 0.94 |
| Kansas | $64,330 | $45,280 | $131,990 | 460 | 1.05 |
| Kentucky | $65,820 | $47,300 | $129,890 | 490 | 0.79 |
| Louisiana | $79,940 | $47,290 | $118,750 | 340 | 0.58 |
| Maine | $81,130 | $59,380 | $139,640 | 170 | 0.86 |
| Maryland | $83,360 | $54,030 | $176,630 | 820 | 0.97 |
| Massachusetts | $85,490 | $60,490 | $165,490 | 1,880 | 1.68 |
| Michigan | $99,330 | $45,310 | $174,260 | 1,420 | 1.05 |
| Minnesota | $85,570 | $61,310 | $130,940 | 690 | 0.76 |
| Mississippi | $61,760 | $46,630 | $97,590 | 360 | 1.01 |
| Missouri | $74,640 | $47,270 | $124,800 | 740 | 0.82 |
| Montana | $80,610 | $51,520 | $122,520 | 120 | 0.78 |
| Nebraska | $79,310 | $54,740 | $133,390 | 270 | 0.86 |
| Nevada | $82,540 | $53,020 | $109,070 | 250 | 0.52 |
| New Hampshire | $91,670 | $54,460 | $163,190 | 150 | 0.72 |
| New Jersey | $80,660 | $32,220 | $139,910 | 1,660 | 1.27 |
| New Mexico | $66,550 | $42,680 | $106,310 | 400 | 1.48 |
| New York | $87,230 | $52,400 | $162,400 | 4,080 | 1.37 |
| North Carolina | $73,620 | $49,410 | $132,720 | 1,870 | 1.23 |
| North Dakota | $76,770 | $54,300 | $119,810 | 120 | 0.91 |
| Ohio | $81,330 | $45,280 | $127,610 | 1,600 | 0.94 |
| Oklahoma | $64,660 | $34,290 | $95,400 | 430 | 0.81 |
| Oregon | $91,770 | $59,000 | $138,260 | 820 | 1.37 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,170 | $49,790 | $126,790 | 2,000 | 1.07 |
| Puerto Rico | $76,750 | $41,650 | $96,040 | 150 | 0.51 |
| Rhode Island | $95,600 | $62,810 | $183,740 | 260 | 1.68 |
| South Carolina | $77,580 | $51,340 | $105,490 | 700 | 0.99 |
| South Dakota | $64,620 | $52,060 | $106,840 | 130 | 0.91 |
| Tennessee | $76,240 | $49,780 | $137,100 | 870 | 0.87 |
| Texas | $76,990 | $47,430 | $130,280 | 4,870 | 1.13 |
| Utah | $83,270 | $49,510 | $134,290 | 370 | 0.7 |
| Vermont | $84,860 | $61,030 | $140,210 | 170 | 1.79 |
| Virginia | $75,830 | $42,400 | $136,000 | 1,570 | 1.25 |
| Washington | $85,560 | $59,360 | $131,990 | 820 | 0.75 |
| West Virginia | $69,370 | $50,050 | $114,880 | 210 | 0.98 |
| Wisconsin | $80,480 | $60,640 | $141,160 | 780 | 0.87 |
| Wyoming | $76,910 | $47,890 | $101,470 | 110 | 1.24 |
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 mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.1%.
- 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 mathematical 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
- Mathematics Teacher Education CIP 13.1311
- Biostatistics CIP 26.1102
- Mathematics, General CIP 27.0101
- Algebra and Number Theory CIP 27.0102
- Analysis and Functional Analysis CIP 27.0103
- Geometry/Geometric Analysis CIP 27.0104
- Topology and Foundations CIP 27.0105
- Mathematics, Other CIP 27.0199
- Applied Mathematics, General CIP 27.0301
- Computational and Applied Mathematics CIP 27.0304
- Financial Mathematics CIP 27.0305
- Mathematical Biology CIP 27.0306
- Applied Mathematics, Other CIP 27.0399
- Statistics, General CIP 27.0501
- Mathematical Statistics and Probability CIP 27.0502
- Mathematics and Statistics CIP 27.0503
- Statistics, Other CIP 27.0599
- Applied Statistics, General CIP 27.0601
- Mathematics and Statistics, Other CIP 27.9999
- Mathematics and Computer Science CIP 30.0801
- Mathematics and Atmospheric/Oceanic Science CIP 30.5001
- Logic CIP 38.0102
- Business Statistics CIP 52.1302
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as linear algebra, differential equations, and discrete mathematics.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Technology skills
- Learning management system LMS (in demand)
- Google Docs (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)
- Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
- Structured query language SQL (hot technology)
- Blackboard Learn
- Blackboard software
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Evaluation, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Adjunct Mathematics Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Instructor, Math Teacher, Mathematical Sciences Professor, Mathematics Instructor (Math Instructor), Mathematics Lecturer, Mathematics 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 mathematical science teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median annual wage for mathematical science teachers, postsecondary was $79,940 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $49,180 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $139,340. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do mathematical 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 mathematical science teachers, postsecondary a growing career?
BLS projects employment of mathematical science teachers, postsecondary to change +1.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay mathematical science teachers, postsecondary the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($130,680), Delaware ($101,510), Michigan ($99,330). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.