Compensation
Median Pay
$80,340
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$80,340
Projected Growth
3.6%
Annual Openings
4,000
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
52,500
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
3.6%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
4,000
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.
Writing & reading
98 / 100
98%
Adaptability
95 / 100
95%
Speaking & listening
95 / 100
95%
Leadership
90 / 100
90%
Critical & analytical thinking
84 / 100
84%
Interpersonal
84 / 100
84%
Creativity & innovation
83 / 100
83%
Science
83 / 100
83%
Computers & information technology
82 / 100
82%
Problem solving & decision making
81 / 100
81%
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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.
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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 Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Psychology teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Psychology teachers, postsecondary (occupation code 25-1066), work in higher education settings and focus on teaching psychological concepts and methods. Nationally, there are 52,000 people employed in this role, with a projected employment growth rate of 3.6%. The national median annual salary is $80,330, indicating solid earning potential for those who qualify. The field offers about 4,000 annual openings, which can reflect opportunities from new positions as well as turnover. This career typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, so it is most suitable for individuals prepared to pursue advanced graduate study. Strong skills in writing and reading, speaking and listening, critical and analytical thinking, and science are especially relevant. Interpersonal skills, leadership, adaptability, creativity and innovation, problem solving and decision making, and comfort with computers and information technology also play an important role in success and advancement in this profession.
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Psychology teachers, postsecondary, earn a national median annual salary of $80,330. Salaries vary significantly by location. At the state level, California stands out with a median of $107,340, followed by New York at $100,720 and Massachusetts at $82,930. Colorado and Washington offer median salaries of $76,810 and $78,330, respectively. Among metro areas, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA shows a particularly high median of $129,610, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA offers $105,720 and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ offers $102,740. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has a median of $100,980, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH matches the state median of $82,930. These differences illustrate how earnings can shift based on region and metro area, giving prospective psychology teachers a range of salary environments to consider.
Job Outlook for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Postsecondary psychology teaching offers a defined, measurable employment outlook. National employment stands at 52,000, with projected employment growth of 3.6%. This same projected growth rate of 3.6% appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting a consistent growth expectation in different regions. The occupation has about 4,000 annual openings nationwide, which can include both new positions and openings created when current faculty move on or retire. Together, the current employment base, the specific growth rate, and the steady stream of annual openings indicate a career path with ongoing hiring activity. For individuals who complete the typical doctoral or professional degree and build the relevant skills, these figures point to a structured, data-backed employment landscape where both current demand and future growth are clearly quantified.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary?
Geography makes a meaningful difference for psychology teachers, postsecondary. At the state level, California has a median salary of $107,340 with 4,410 employed and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York offers a median of $100,720 and 4,070 employed, while Massachusetts shows $82,930 and 2,640 employed. Colorado and Washington have smaller employment levels—960 and 840 respectively—with median salaries of $76,810 and $78,330 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has an opportunity score of 77.42, with a median salary of $105,720 and 440 employed. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27, a median salary of $102,740, and 3,950 employed. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA features a high median salary of $129,610, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also show strong combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores.
Education for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education requirement for psychology teachers, postsecondary is a doctoral or professional degree. This advanced level of education aligns with the academic focus of the role and the expectation to teach complex psychological concepts. Success in this field is supported by a broad set of skills. Writing and reading are central for developing and evaluating academic materials. Speaking and listening skills are key for engaging with students and colleagues. Critical and analytical thinking, along with science skills, support the understanding and communication of psychological theories and research. Interpersonal skills and leadership contribute to working with diverse learners and academic teams. Adaptability, creativity and innovation, problem solving and decision making, and comfort with computers and information technology further strengthen a candidate’s readiness for modern postsecondary teaching environments in psychology.
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