Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for physics teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $100,310, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $100,310
- Mean annual wage
- $111,460
- Median hourly wage
- —
- Employment
- 13,090
13,090 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,200 | — |
| 25th percentile | $74,050 | — |
| Median (50th) | $100,310 | — |
| 75th percentile | $132,650 | — |
| 90th percentile | $177,850 | — |
Highest-paying states for physics teachers, postsecondary
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $139,420 | 1,130 |
| Connecticut | $112,410 | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $111,280 | 680 |
| Maryland | $110,980 | 300 |
| Michigan | $109,090 | 460 |
| New Mexico | $108,850 | 70 |
| Delaware | $108,810 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $107,240 | 250 |
| Idaho | $106,040 | 50 |
| Virginia | $104,490 | 610 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $64,900 median annual wage
- Arizona: $65,730 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $71,160 median annual wage
- Florida: $74,050 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $80,270 median annual wage
About this occupation
Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Typical tasks
- Act as advisers to student organizations.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
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.