Compensation
Median Pay
$77,640
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Postsecondary teachers, all other
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$77,640
Projected Growth
1.8%
Annual Openings
13,500
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
183,400
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
1.8%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
13,500
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
96 / 100
96%
Writing & reading
91 / 100
91%
Creativity & innovation
89 / 100
89%
Adaptability
85 / 100
85%
Leadership
82 / 100
82%
Science
80 / 100
80%
Critical & analytical thinking
79 / 100
79%
Computers & information technology
71 / 100
71%
Interpersonal
71 / 100
71%
Problem solving & decision making
69 / 100
69%
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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 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Postsecondary teachers, all other a Good Career?
Postsecondary teachers, all other (25-1199) encompass teaching roles in higher education that are not classified under more specific categories. This field employs about 183,000 people nationwide, indicating a sizable presence in colleges, universities, and similar institutions. The national median annual salary of $78,490 shows that these roles can offer solid income potential, especially for those who build experience and expertise. Projected employment growth of 1.8% and around 14,000 annual openings suggest a stream of ongoing opportunities, including both new jobs and replacement needs. Typical entry into this field requires a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting the advanced knowledge and scholarship often expected at the postsecondary level. Strong capabilities in speaking, listening, writing, and reading support classroom instruction and academic communication, while skills such as critical and analytical thinking, problem solving, science, creativity, and leadership help educators design learning experiences and contribute to their institutions. For people interested in higher education careers, this occupation offers a structured path that combines advanced study with teaching-focused work.
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Salary
With a national median annual salary of $78,490, postsecondary teachers, all other can expect earnings that reflect their advanced education and specialized expertise. Pay can vary meaningfully by location. Among the highlighted states, California reports a median salary of $100,690 and Massachusetts reports $94,480, both above the national median. Colorado at $83,210 and Washington at $78,940 are close to or modestly above the national figure, while New York’s median salary of $67,640 shows that compensation is not uniform across all higher-opportunity states. Metro area data also show variation: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has a median salary of $103,340, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is at $99,240, compared with $82,620 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and $73,490 in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. These differences suggest that both state and metro choices can significantly influence earning potential for this career.
Job Outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Postsecondary teachers, all other currently employ about 183,000 workers nationwide, underscoring a significant footprint within higher education. Projected employment growth of 1.8% indicates that the field is expected to expand, though at a measured pace. In addition to growth, the occupation is projected to offer about 14,000 annual openings. These openings reflect a combination of newly created positions and roles that become available as people retire, change careers, or move into other jobs. For job seekers, this combination of an established employment base and ongoing annual openings points to a continuing need for qualified educators with the appropriate advanced degrees. The fact that states and metro areas share the same 1.8% projected growth rate in the provided data suggests relatively consistent expectations for expansion across regions, though actual opportunities will still depend on local institutions’ hiring patterns and the number of candidates with doctoral or professional degrees competing for available positions.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?
Geography can play a major role in opportunity for postsecondary teachers, all other. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $100,690, employment of 37,770, and an opportunity score of 67.38, reflecting both substantial job numbers and pay. Massachusetts offers a median salary of $94,480 and an opportunity score of 65.87, while New York, Colorado, and Washington show varying combinations of salary, employment level, and scores. For example, New York’s median salary is $67,640 with employment of 2,810 and an opportunity score of 65.78, indicating that an attractive score can coexist with lower median pay than some other states. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area has an opportunity score of 77.42, a median salary of $94,690, and employment of 3,130. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area has a similar opportunity score of 77.27 but a lower median salary of $73,490. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH offers a higher median salary of $103,340 with a somewhat lower opportunity score of 63.37. These patterns show that opportunity scores, salaries, and employment levels can differ significantly by metro, giving candidates several ways to prioritize location—higher pay, higher scores, or larger employment bases.
Education for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
The typical education requirement for postsecondary teachers, all other is a doctoral or professional degree. This indicates that most roles expect a high level of academic preparation, advanced subject-matter expertise, and the ability to engage in scholarly or professional work at the postsecondary level. To succeed, candidates benefit from a broad mix of intellectual and interpersonal capabilities. Speaking and listening skills are central for lectures, discussions, and student interaction, while strong writing and reading abilities support academic communication and staying current in one’s field. Critical and analytical thinking, problem solving, and decision making are important for evaluating information and guiding students. The inclusion of science and computers and information technology among the top skills signals the value of working comfortably with evidence, data, and digital tools in many teaching environments. Creativity, innovation, adaptability, leadership, and interpersonal skills round out a profile that supports effective teaching, collaboration with colleagues, and contributions to institutional goals.
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