Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for sociology teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $84,290, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $84,290
- Mean annual wage
- $96,980
- Median hourly wage
- —
- Employment
- 11,850
11,850 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,930 | — |
| 25th percentile | $64,990 | — |
| Median (50th) | $84,290 | — |
| 75th percentile | $110,650 | — |
| 90th percentile | $160,140 | — |
Highest-paying states for sociology teachers, postsecondary
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $127,680 | 810 |
| Delaware | $123,710 | — |
| New Hampshire | $112,890 | 40 |
| District of Columbia | $103,160 | 70 |
| Michigan | $102,870 | 370 |
| Oregon | $101,960 | 150 |
| Connecticut | $101,490 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $99,660 | 440 |
| Utah | $99,350 | 70 |
| New York | $97,540 | 1,130 |
Lowest-paying states
- Kentucky: $61,260 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $62,390 median annual wage
- Florida: $63,470 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $64,210 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $64,900 median annual wage
About this occupation
Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Typical tasks
- Mentor new faculty.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
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.