Compensation
Median Pay
$78,580
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Communications teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$78,580
Projected Growth
2.1%
Annual Openings
2,700
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
35,800
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
2.1%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
2,700
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
100 / 100
100%
Creativity & innovation
97 / 100
97%
Adaptability
95 / 100
95%
Computers & information technology
92 / 100
92%
Writing & reading
87 / 100
87%
Leadership
77 / 100
77%
Interpersonal
76 / 100
76%
Problem solving & decision making
74 / 100
74%
Critical & analytical thinking
71 / 100
71%
Project management
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 Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Communications teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Communications teachers, postsecondary (occupation code 25-1122), work in a field that combines subject-matter expertise with education. Nationally, there are about 36,000 people employed in this occupation, with a national median annual salary of $77,800. The role typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, indicating an advanced level of academic preparation. Projected employment growth of 2.1% and about 3,000 annual openings suggest a consistent flow of opportunities over time. Strong speaking and listening skills, along with writing and reading, are central to success in this career. The work also draws on creativity, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making. Leadership, interpersonal skills, and project management further support effectiveness in academic environments. For individuals interested in teaching and mentoring at the college level, communications teaching offers a structured career path with clearly defined education expectations and a national presence across states and major metro areas.
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The national median annual salary for communications teachers, postsecondary, is $77,800, but earnings vary across states and metro areas. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, California shows a notably high median salary of $135,000, while New York and Massachusetts offer median salaries of $84,690 and $82,610, respectively. Colorado and Washington present median salaries of $69,200 and $75,330. At the metro level, the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area stands out with a median salary of $166,920, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $119,860. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has a median salary of $97,760, and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area reports $83,810. These figures highlight that potential earnings can differ substantially by location, giving candidates room to prioritize either salary levels or other factors such as region and job market size when planning their careers.
Job Outlook for Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
Communications teachers, postsecondary, have national employment of about 36,000, with projected employment growth of 2.1%. This same 2.1% projected growth rate appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, indicating a consistent growth expectation in multiple regions. Nationally, there are about 3,000 annual openings, suggesting ongoing replacement and growth demand over time. States with notable employment levels for this field include California (3,140), New York (2,490), and Massachusetts (1,110), with smaller but meaningful employment in Colorado (560) and Washington (420). At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area has 2,430 employed communications teachers, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has 920 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has 490. These figures indicate that opportunities are both nationally distributed and concentrated in certain large metro regions, giving prospective and current educators multiple geographic options for pursuing roles.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Communications Teachers, Postsecondary?
Location can significantly shape career opportunities for postsecondary communications teachers. Among states, California ranks high by CareerGPS opportunity score (67.38), combining a median salary of $135,000 with employment of 3,140. New York (opportunity score 65.78) and Massachusetts (65.87) also offer sizable job markets, with median salaries of $84,690 and $82,610 and employment of 2,490 and 1,110, respectively. Colorado and Washington provide smaller employment bases—560 and 420—but still feature opportunity scores above 56. At the metro level, opportunity scores are especially strong in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (77.42) and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (77.27). San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA combines a high median salary of $166,920 with an opportunity score of 68.75. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also show solid metrics, with employment of 490 and 920 and opportunity scores above 63. These differences allow educators to weigh salary, job concentration, and opportunity scores when choosing where to live and work.
Education for Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education requirement for postsecondary communications teachers is a doctoral or professional degree. This advanced level of education aligns with the expectations of teaching at colleges and universities and supports deep subject-matter expertise. Success in this role is also closely connected to a broad set of skills. Speaking and listening, along with writing and reading, are central for teaching, mentoring, and academic communication. Creativity and innovation, adaptability, and computers and information technology skills support work in evolving classroom and institutional environments. Critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, and project management are valuable for designing courses, managing academic projects, and contributing to departmental goals. Leadership and interpersonal skills help in working with students, colleagues, and academic committees. For those comfortable with advanced study and a wide-ranging skill set, the educational and skill profile of this career can be a strong fit.
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