Compensation
Median Pay
$84,290
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$84,290
Projected Growth
2.1%
Annual Openings
1,100
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
15,400
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
2.1%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
1,100
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.
Speaking & listening
97 / 100
97%
Writing & reading
94 / 100
94%
Critical & analytical thinking
89 / 100
89%
Adaptability
85 / 100
85%
Creativity & innovation
85 / 100
85%
Computers & information technology
84 / 100
84%
Interpersonal
63 / 100
63%
Problem solving & decision making
52 / 100
52%
Science
49 / 100
49%
Project management
48 / 100
48%
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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 Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Sociology teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Sociology teachers, postsecondary, work in roles that combine subject-matter expertise with communication and analytical abilities. Nationally, employment stands at 15,000, with a projected growth rate of 2.1%. This growth, along with about 1,000 annual openings, indicates a steady flow of opportunities over time. The national median annual salary of $82,540 shows that these roles can offer solid earning potential, with some locations providing higher pay. The career rewards a broad mix of strengths, including speaking and listening, writing and reading, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making. It also values adaptability, creativity and innovation, interpersonal skills, science, project management, and comfort with computers and information technology. For individuals interested in academic paths within the social sciences, this occupation can also sit alongside related options such as sociologists or other postsecondary social science teaching roles, offering multiple directions for long-term career exploration within the field.
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The national median annual salary for sociology teachers, postsecondary, is $82,540, but earnings can vary significantly by location. Several top states offer higher median salaries, including California at $127,680, New York at $97,540, and Massachusetts at $96,790. Washington and Colorado report median salaries of $83,140 and $78,630, respectively. At the metro level, some areas stand out with particularly high pay. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, metro reports a median salary of $132,930, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, reports $120,570. Other high-paying metros include Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, at $103,810 and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, at $99,850. Taken together, this suggests that while the national median provides a solid baseline, targeting specific states or metros—especially in California and the Northeast—can significantly influence earning potential for qualified professionals.
Job Outlook for Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Sociology teachers, postsecondary, have national employment of 15,000, with projected employment growth of 2.1%. This indicates that positions in this field are expected to increase over time, though at a measured pace. The occupation is projected to have about 1,000 annual openings. These openings are likely to reflect a combination of new positions from growth and turnover in existing roles. The combination of steady growth and recurring openings can provide ongoing opportunities for new entrants and experienced educators considering a change of institution or location. For individuals evaluating the stability of this field, the presence of defined employment, a specific growth rate, and a clear estimate of annual openings provides a structured picture of demand. Those considering alternatives can also look at related options such as sociologists or other postsecondary social science teaching roles if they want to compare overall employment patterns and opportunities across the broader social sciences landscape.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary?
Location plays a significant role in opportunity and compensation for sociology teachers, postsecondary. Among states, California shows a high median salary of $127,680 with employment of 810 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also provide strong combinations of pay and opportunity, with median salaries of $96,790 and $97,540, employment of 580 and 1,130, and opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, respectively. Colorado and Washington offer median salaries close to or above the national median, with opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, areas have the highest opportunity scores, 77.42 and 77.27, along with high median salaries of $120,570 and $99,850. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, stands out with a median salary of $132,930. These differences highlight how both salary and opportunity can shift meaningfully between states and specific metro areas.
Education for Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education requirement for sociology teachers, postsecondary, is a doctoral or professional degree. This level of education supports the advanced knowledge and expertise expected in postsecondary teaching roles. Success in this field is also associated with a broad, well-developed skill set. Core communication strengths are important, including speaking and listening as well as writing and reading. Critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, support work that involves evaluating ideas and information. Adaptability, creativity and innovation, and interpersonal skills contribute to effectiveness in diverse academic environments. Comfort with computers and information technology is also important, alongside skills in science and project management. Together, these skills indicate that the role combines deep academic preparation with strong communication, analytical, and organizational abilities. Individuals planning for this career can use these requirements as a guide when selecting advanced programs and experiences that build both subject knowledge and the listed competencies.
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