Compensation
Median Pay
$96,980
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Computer science teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$96,980
Projected Growth
5.3%
Annual Openings
3,500
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
44,800
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
5.3%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
3,500
Estimated openings created each year.
Pathway
Preparation
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
STEP 1
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
STEP 2
Experience
None
STEP 3
Training
None
Top Skills for Success
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Computers & information technology
98 / 100
98%
Creativity & innovation
91 / 100
91%
Speaking & listening
91 / 100
91%
Leadership
88 / 100
88%
Mathematics
88 / 100
88%
Adaptability
86 / 100
86%
Problem solving & decision making
86 / 100
86%
Critical & analytical thinking
85 / 100
85%
Writing & reading
85 / 100
85%
Science
71 / 100
71%
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Location Intelligence
Best Places for This Career
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
PRO
Best Metro Areas
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
- Top-paying cities
- Fast-growing markets
- Local opportunity rankings
CAREERGPS INSIGHTS
Career Analysis for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Computer science teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Computer science teachers, postsecondary (occupation code 25-1021), work in an academic environment focused on computers and information technology, mathematics, science, and communication. Nationally, this occupation employs about 45,000 people, with a national median annual salary of $96,690. Projected employment growth of 5.3% and roughly 4,000 annual openings indicate ongoing demand. The role benefits from a broad skill set that includes creativity and innovation, speaking and listening, leadership, adaptability, problem solving and decision making, critical and analytical thinking, and strong writing and reading abilities. These skills support both teaching and academic activities. Opportunities vary by state and metro area, with some locations offering higher median salaries and stronger CareerGPS opportunity scores. Overall, the combination of a doctoral or professional degree requirement, a solid national employment base, and consistent projected growth makes this a structured, academically oriented career path to consider for those interested in computer science and education.
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Computer science teachers, postsecondary, have a national median annual salary of $96,690. Earnings differ across states and metro areas. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, California and Massachusetts show the highest median salaries at $128,210 and $128,030, while New York is close to the national median at $96,450. Colorado and Washington show median salaries of $80,530 and $90,950. At the metro level, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports a median salary of $133,330, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH reports $119,810. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metros also offer median salaries above or near the national figure. These patterns suggest that location choices can significantly influence earning potential within this field, even when the overall national median is already relatively high for postsecondary teaching roles.
Job Outlook for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Nationally, computer science teachers, postsecondary, have total employment of about 45,000. Projected employment growth is 5.3%, and there are an estimated 4,000 annual openings. This combination of a sizeable existing workforce, positive projected growth, and a consistent flow of openings indicates an occupation with ongoing hiring needs. The 5.3% growth figure is also reflected in the state and metro data provided, suggesting a broadly similar growth expectation across the highlighted regions. For individuals planning a career in this field, the data points to a stable path with regular opportunities to enter or advance within the profession. While specific drivers of demand are not detailed, the alignment of employment, growth, and annual openings suggests that the occupation is expected to maintain a steady presence in the higher education landscape over the projection period.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary?
Location makes a clear difference for computer science teachers, postsecondary, both in pay and in the overall CareerGPS opportunity score. Among states, California leads with a median salary of $128,210 and an opportunity score of 67.38, followed closely by Massachusetts with a median salary of $128,030 and an opportunity score of 65.87. New York combines the largest employment level among these states (3,170) with an opportunity score of 65.78. Colorado and Washington have lower median salaries ($80,530 and $90,950) and somewhat lower opportunity scores (56.97 and 56.29), but still appear among the top states listed. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with opportunity scores above 77, indicating especially strong overall conditions. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers the highest metro median salary at $133,330. These differences highlight meaningful tradeoffs between salary levels, opportunity scores, and employment concentrations when choosing where to work.
Education for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education requirement for computer science teachers, postsecondary, is a doctoral or professional degree. This reflects the advanced academic nature of the role and the expectation that educators operate at a high level in both subject matter and pedagogy. In addition to formal education, success in this field relies on a broad skill profile. Key skills include computers and information technology, mathematics, and science, which support subject expertise. Creativity and innovation, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making help with developing and delivering effective instruction. Speaking and listening, writing and reading, leadership, and adaptability are also important, supporting communication with students and colleagues and the ability to respond to changing academic needs. Together, the advanced degree and this mix of technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills define the professional profile for this occupation.
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