Physics teachers, postsecondary salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,200 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $100,310 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $111,460 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $177,850 | 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
Physics teachers, postsecondary pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $82,750 | $58,510 | $121,120 | 170 | 0.97 |
| Arizona | $65,730 | $61,040 | $139,860 | 350 | 1.29 |
| Arkansas | $64,900 | $46,730 | $130,830 | 30 | 0.3 |
| California | $139,420 | $80,060 | $292,150 | 1,130 | 0.74 |
| Colorado | $99,280 | $52,870 | $161,810 | 280 | 1.15 |
| Connecticut | $112,410 | $65,270 | $214,810 | 260 | 1.8 |
| Delaware | $108,810 | $83,040 | $214,320 | 70 | 1.64 |
| District of Columbia | $85,190 | $63,260 | $130,370 | 130 | 2.25 |
| Florida | $74,050 | $55,370 | $104,870 | 180 | 0.22 |
| Georgia | $101,580 | $63,710 | $168,000 | 210 | 0.51 |
| Idaho | $106,040 | $64,340 | $148,100 | 50 | 0.69 |
| Illinois | $94,900 | $61,150 | $166,410 | 540 | 1.05 |
| Indiana | $102,970 | $61,600 | $161,080 | 270 | 1.02 |
| Iowa | $104,270 | $66,490 | $222,150 | 120 | 0.93 |
| Kansas | $97,140 | $48,440 | $171,150 | 110 | 0.88 |
| Kentucky | $80,270 | $37,810 | $138,980 | 160 | 0.94 |
| Louisiana | $90,040 | $59,080 | $151,240 | 90 | 0.55 |
| Maine | $104,270 | $67,750 | $180,530 | 60 | 1.08 |
| Maryland | $110,980 | $63,130 | $223,870 | 300 | 1.29 |
| Massachusetts | $111,280 | $63,660 | $213,120 | 680 | 2.23 |
| Michigan | $109,090 | $55,450 | $176,760 | 460 | 1.23 |
| Minnesota | $107,240 | $65,150 | $164,950 | 250 | 1 |
| Mississippi | $71,160 | $57,370 | $121,310 | 100 | 0.97 |
| Missouri | $99,970 | $56,140 | $164,810 | 230 | 0.91 |
| Montana | $98,050 | $59,950 | $170,770 | 70 | 1.52 |
| Nebraska | $98,460 | $61,240 | $165,280 | 70 | 0.86 |
| Nevada | $96,330 | $68,050 | $133,100 | 90 | 0.71 |
| New Hampshire | $99,050 | $53,630 | $235,610 | 40 | 0.66 |
| New Jersey | $98,920 | $34,480 | $178,220 | 530 | 1.46 |
| New Mexico | $108,850 | $80,800 | $142,800 | 70 | 1.02 |
| New York | $103,100 | $61,320 | $209,940 | 1,080 | 1.32 |
| North Carolina | $87,370 | $54,890 | $143,460 | 440 | 1.07 |
| North Dakota | $101,700 | $62,200 | $139,990 | 40 | 0.98 |
| Ohio | $96,310 | $47,960 | $132,700 | 420 | 0.91 |
| Oklahoma | $91,580 | $48,730 | $132,750 | 90 | 0.62 |
| Oregon | $104,320 | $71,310 | $164,720 | 230 | 1.42 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,370 | $59,160 | $134,610 | 580 | 1.13 |
| Puerto Rico | $83,830 | $53,040 | $96,150 | 80 | 1.07 |
| South Carolina | $81,210 | $61,470 | $128,940 | 150 | 0.77 |
| South Dakota | $86,010 | $56,590 | $107,950 | 30 | 0.89 |
| Tennessee | $80,630 | $57,590 | $157,710 | 340 | 1.25 |
| Texas | $97,760 | $60,590 | $167,090 | 1,110 | 0.94 |
| Utah | $99,860 | $51,610 | $159,570 | 120 | 0.79 |
| Vermont | $98,390 | $64,570 | $129,260 | 50 | 1.79 |
| Virginia | $104,490 | $52,640 | $171,100 | 610 | 1.75 |
| Washington | $96,930 | $57,580 | $166,100 | 310 | 1.04 |
| West Virginia | $98,320 | $56,940 | $129,780 | 50 | 0.8 |
| Wisconsin | $89,630 | $68,560 | $175,810 | 210 | 0.85 |
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 physics teachers, postsecondary
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,100. 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 physics 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
- Physics Teacher Education CIP 13.1329
- Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other CIP 40.0299
- Chemical Physics CIP 40.0508
- Physics, General CIP 40.0801
- Atomic/Molecular Physics CIP 40.0802
- Elementary Particle Physics CIP 40.0804
- Plasma and High-Temperature Physics CIP 40.0805
- Nuclear Physics CIP 40.0806
- Optics/Optical Sciences CIP 40.0807
- Condensed Matter and Materials Physics CIP 40.0808
- Acoustics CIP 40.0809
- Theoretical and Mathematical Physics CIP 40.0810
- Physics, Other CIP 40.0899
- Physics and Astronomy CIP 40.1101
- Health/Medical Physics CIP 51.2205
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 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 quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Technology skills
- Learning management system LMS (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- C (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- 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)
- Perl (hot technology)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- Blackboard Learn
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.
Common job titles: Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Instructor, Physical Science Professor, Physics Instructor, Physics Lecturer, Physics Professor, Professor, Science Instructor.
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 physics teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median annual wage for physics teachers, postsecondary was $100,310 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $60,200 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $177,850. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do physics 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 physics teachers, postsecondary a growing career?
BLS projects employment of physics teachers, postsecondary to change +2.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay physics teachers, postsecondary the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($139,420), Connecticut ($112,410), Massachusetts ($111,280). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.