Compensation
Median Pay
$75,350
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Education teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$75,350
Projected Growth
2.1%
Annual Openings
5,600
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
74,900
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
2.1%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
5,600
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
Less than 5 years
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
100 / 100
100%
Writing & reading
90 / 100
90%
Leadership
85 / 100
85%
Problem solving & decision making
85 / 100
85%
Critical & analytical thinking
82 / 100
82%
Creativity & innovation
80 / 100
80%
Project management
74 / 100
74%
Interpersonal
62 / 100
62%
Adaptability
58 / 100
58%
Computers & information technology
58 / 100
58%
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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 Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Education teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Education teachers, postsecondary, work in higher education settings helping prepare future educators and advance knowledge about education. Nationally, this occupation employs about 75,000 people, with a typical requirement of a doctoral or professional degree. The national median annual salary is $72,090, indicating solid earning potential, with higher pay available in certain states and metro areas. Career prospects are supported by projected employment growth of 2.1% and about 6,000 annual openings, suggesting a steady flow of opportunities from new positions and turnover. The role draws heavily on communication skills such as speaking, listening, writing, and reading, along with leadership, problem solving, and critical and analytical thinking. Creativity, innovation, project management, interpersonal strengths, adaptability, and comfort with computers and information technology also contribute to success in this field. For students and professionals interested in teaching about education at the college or university level, this path offers a blend of intellectual, instructional, and leadership-focused work.
Education Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The national median annual salary for education teachers, postsecondary, is $72,090. However, salaries vary by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $111,850, notably higher than the national median. New York and Massachusetts also offer higher-than-national medians at $82,020 and $79,980, respectively, while Washington’s median is $75,170. Colorado’s median salary of $66,870 falls below the national median, illustrating that even strong opportunity states can differ in pay levels. Metro areas show even more variation. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA has a median salary of $121,520, the highest among the listed metros. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA follows with $92,720. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH metros offer medians of $80,640 and $79,980, while Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV reports $78,820. Overall, earnings can be significantly influenced by where you work within this field.
Job Outlook for Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Education teachers, postsecondary, have national employment of about 75,000, indicating a sizable field within higher education. Projected employment growth of 2.1% points to a modest expansion over the projection period. In addition to growth, there are approximately 6,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing demand from both new and replacement positions. The projected 2.1% growth rate is consistent across the highlighted top states and metro areas, suggesting a broadly similar expansion pattern in those regions. For career planners, the combination of existing employment, projected growth, and recurring annual openings indicates that opportunities should continue to be available, though they may be competitive in preferred locations. Individuals who combine the required education with the key skills identified for this occupation are positioned to take advantage of openings as they arise, whether in established higher education centers or other regions that employ postsecondary education teachers.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Education Teachers, Postsecondary?
Location plays a significant role in opportunities for education teachers, postsecondary. Among states, California leads the CareerGPS opportunity scores at 67.38, with a high median salary of $111,850 and employment of 3,100. New York has the largest employment among the listed states at 5,430 and an opportunity score of 65.78, paired with a median salary of $82,020. Massachusetts combines a median salary of $79,980 with 2,050 employed and an opportunity score of 65.87. Washington and Colorado round out the top states with opportunity scores of 56.29 and 56.97, respectively, and somewhat lower median salaries. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA offers the highest opportunity score (77.42) and the highest median salary ($121,520), though with relatively small employment (430). The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro has a similarly strong opportunity score of 77.27 and much higher employment (5,120). San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH provide additional strong options, with opportunity scores above 63 and varied balances of salary and employment.
Education for Education Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education requirement for education teachers, postsecondary, is a doctoral or professional degree. This advanced level of education aligns with the demands of teaching at the college or university level and contributing to the field of education. Preparing for this role involves developing a combination of academic expertise and key transferable skills. Core skills for this occupation include strong speaking and listening abilities, as well as writing and reading, reflecting the importance of clear communication in postsecondary teaching. Leadership, problem solving and decision making, and critical and analytical thinking support responsibilities such as guiding students and engaging with complex educational issues. Creativity and innovation, project management capabilities, and interpersonal skills also play important roles, helping educators manage courses and work effectively with colleagues and students. Adaptability and proficiency with computers and information technology further support success, given the need to operate in evolving academic and instructional environments.
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