Compensation
Median Pay
$78,620
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$78,620
Projected Growth
1.7%
Annual Openings
9,000
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
122,800
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
1.7%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
9,000
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
Master's 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.
Creativity & innovation
100 / 100
100%
Speaking & listening
98 / 100
98%
Leadership
91 / 100
91%
Writing & reading
86 / 100
86%
Adaptability
82 / 100
82%
Project management
79 / 100
79%
Interpersonal
78 / 100
78%
Critical & analytical thinking
64 / 100
64%
Computers & information technology
52 / 100
52%
Science
51 / 100
51%
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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 Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary, work in higher education settings teaching creative disciplines to college students and other adult learners. National employment stands at 123,000, indicating a sizable professional community. With a national median annual salary of $80,190 and projected employment growth of 1.7%, the role offers a combination of creative work and stable long-term prospects. The field also generates 9,000 annual openings, suggesting ongoing opportunities for new and experienced educators. This career suits people who want to combine artistic or performance talents with teaching, mentoring, and academic work. Success in this path draws on strengths in creativity and innovation, speaking and listening, leadership, and interpersonal skills. For those exploring related options, nearby paths include roles such as training and development specialists, recreational therapists, postsecondary English language and literature teachers, entertainers and performers, and various religious worker roles.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The national median annual salary for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary is $80,190, providing a clear benchmark for overall earning potential. Pay varies across states and metropolitan areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, California and New York stand out with median salaries of $99,410 and $98,850, respectively, while Massachusetts offers $85,820. Colorado and Washington present median salaries of $70,060 and $77,950. At the metro level, some areas show notably higher pay. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro reports a median salary of $127,800, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ offers $100,950 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH offers $96,170. These figures indicate that location choices can significantly influence earnings for professionals in this field.
Job Outlook for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary, have national employment of 123,000, reflecting a well-established occupation in colleges and other postsecondary institutions. Projected employment growth of 1.7% points to modest expansion rather than decline, suggesting that positions are expected to continue to be available over time. The occupation generates 9,000 annual openings, which can come from a mix of new positions and turnover in existing roles. Taken together, these indicators show a stable labor market with ongoing demand for new entrants and room for experienced educators to move between institutions or locations. Individuals considering this path can use the employment and growth figures, along with regional opportunity scores, to compare how different areas may support their long-term career plans.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary?
Location plays a meaningful role in opportunities for postsecondary art, drama, and music teachers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York have the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores, at 67.38, 65.87, and 65.78. These states also combine relatively high median salaries with sizable employment bases, such as 9,820 employed in California and 14,920 in New York. Colorado and Washington round out the top states with opportunity scores above 56, though with smaller employment levels. At the metro level, opportunity scores highlight additional differences. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ lead with scores above 77, combining strong salaries and employment. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA stands out for its median salary of $127,800, while the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metros offer solid mixes of pay and employment. Comparing these locations allows job seekers to weigh salary, job concentration, and opportunity score together.
Education for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education requirement for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary is a master’s degree. This advanced academic preparation supports the teaching and mentoring responsibilities involved in working with college and adult learners. Success in this field draws on a broad skill set. Creativity and innovation are foundational for developing and presenting artistic and performance-based content. Speaking and listening, interpersonal skills, and leadership support effective classroom instruction and student engagement. Writing and reading are important for course materials, feedback, and academic communication. Adaptability and project management skills help teachers handle varied courses, performances, and academic schedules. Critical and analytical thinking, along with competencies in computers and information technology and science, round out a modern teaching profile. Together, the master’s level education and this combination of skills prepare professionals to contribute in creative and academic environments and to pursue related paths in similar occupations if they choose to transition later in their careers.
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