Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $80,260, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $80,260
- Mean annual wage
- $92,040
- Median hourly wage
- —
- Employment
- 20,460
20,460 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,140 | — |
| 25th percentile | $62,600 | — |
| Median (50th) | $80,260 | — |
| 75th percentile | $104,770 | — |
| 90th percentile | $139,580 | — |
Highest-paying states for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $105,820 | 1,850 |
| Maine | $102,760 | 60 |
| Vermont | $102,600 | 80 |
| Hawaii | $101,010 | 220 |
| Connecticut | $100,360 | 350 |
| New Jersey | $99,450 | 900 |
| Massachusetts | $98,360 | 890 |
| Utah | $95,410 | 60 |
| New York | $92,050 | 1,700 |
| Michigan | $89,610 | 620 |
Lowest-paying states
- South Dakota: $58,000 median annual wage
- Alabama: $62,210 median annual wage
- Florida: $63,330 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $63,560 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $64,840 median annual wage
About this occupation
Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Typical tasks
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
- Act as advisers to student organizations.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 2.0% |
| Associate's degree | 1.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 15.1% |
| Master's degree | 30.6% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 48.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.