Compensation
Median Pay
$79,940
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$79,940
Projected Growth
2.3%
Annual Openings
4,400
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
58,900
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
2.3%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
4,400
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.
Mathematics
99 / 100
99%
Speaking & listening
88 / 100
88%
Writing & reading
80 / 100
80%
Critical & analytical thinking
76 / 100
76%
Creativity & innovation
72 / 100
72%
Science
67 / 100
67%
Computers & information technology
61 / 100
61%
Interpersonal
56 / 100
56%
Leadership
53 / 100
53%
Adaptability
52 / 100
52%
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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 Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Mathematical science teachers in postsecondary settings focus on teaching mathematics and related topics to college and university students. This career combines deep mathematical knowledge with strong communication, writing, and reading abilities. Nationally, there are about 59,000 people employed in this occupation, with a national median annual salary of $79,350. Employment is projected to grow by 2.3%, and there are about 4,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing demand tied to both new positions and turnover. The role relies heavily on critical and analytical thinking, along with creativity and innovation, as teachers present complex ideas, design coursework, and work with diverse learners. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills also support classroom management and collaboration with colleagues. For people who enjoy mathematics, speaking and listening, and long-term academic pathways, this can be a compelling career path. Similar occupations to consider include economics teachers, business teachers, adult basic education and ESL instructors, geography teachers, and atmospheric and space scientists.
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
For mathematical science teachers, postsecondary, the national median annual salary is $79,350. However, pay can vary substantially by state and metro area. Among the highlighted states, California shows a notably higher median salary of $130,680, while New York and Washington list median salaries of $87,230 and $85,560, respectively. Massachusetts and Colorado fall in a similar range, at $85,490 and $81,930. At the metro level, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA stands out with a median salary of $134,920, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA lists $123,920. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports $98,130, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV list $86,510 and $81,880. These figures show that earnings can differ meaningfully by location, giving prospective teachers some flexibility to weigh salary levels against other career and lifestyle priorities.
Job Outlook for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Mathematical science teachers at the postsecondary level have a national employment base of about 59,000, with projected employment growth of 2.3%. There are around 4,000 annual openings across the country. This mix of existing employment, growth, and regular openings suggests that positions become available both from program needs and from turnover. The same 2.3% growth figure appears across the listed top states and metro areas, indicating generally consistent projected growth in those highlighted regions. For job seekers, this means that while the field is not expanding rapidly, there is a steady flow of opportunities over time. People comparing this path with similar occupations—such as economics teachers, business teachers, adult basic education and ESL instructors, geography teachers, or atmospheric and space scientists—can use the combination of total employment, projected growth rate, and annual openings to gauge how this academic teaching specialty fits their long-term career plans.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary?
Location makes a clear difference for mathematical science teachers, postsecondary. Among states, California ranks highest by opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $130,680 and employment of 3,810. New York has the largest listed employment at 4,080, with a median salary of $87,230 and an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts also scores strongly at 65.87, with 1,880 employed and a median salary of $85,490. Colorado and Washington round out the top states, with opportunity scores of 56.97 and 56.29. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have the highest opportunity scores—77.42 and 77.27—and both offer relatively high median salaries. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA combines an opportunity score of 68.75 with a median salary of $134,920. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV also appear as strong metros. Together, these patterns highlight several regions with notable combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity score.
Education for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
This occupation typically requires a doctoral or professional degree. That educational path supports the deep subject-matter expertise and advanced teaching responsibilities associated with postsecondary mathematical science instruction. Alongside formal education, several key skill areas stand out. Mathematics and science are central, reflecting the technical content of the discipline. Speaking and listening, as well as writing and reading, are important for lecturing, guiding discussions, and preparing academic materials. Critical and analytical thinking, along with creativity and innovation, support work with complex concepts and problem-solving. Computers and information technology skills are also valued, as are interpersonal and leadership abilities, which help in managing classrooms and contributing within academic departments. Adaptability rounds out the skill profile, supporting teachers as they respond to different learners, evolving curricula, and institutional needs. People considering graduate study in this field can use this mix of education level and skills to assess their fit for a long-term academic teaching career.
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