Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 13K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$100,310
Median hourly
$48
Average annual
$111,460
Typical range
$60,200–$177,850
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary is $100,310 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $48 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research..
Most earn between $60,200 and $177,850 a year. There are roughly 13K people employed as physics teachers, postsecondary in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary.
- Hourly
- $48.23
- Daily
- $386
- Weekly
- $1,929
- Bi-weekly
- $3,858
- Monthly
- $8,359
- Annual
- $100,310
$100,310 a year is around the 50th percentile for Physics Teachers, Postsecondarys. The median is $100,310.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$139,420
- 2Connecticut$112,410
- 3Massachusetts$111,280
- 4Maryland$110,980
- 5Michigan$109,090
- 6New Mexico$108,850
- 7Delaware$108,810
- 8Minnesota$107,240
- 9Idaho$106,040
- 10Virginia$104,490
- 11Oregon$104,320
- 12Iowa$104,270
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$172,510
- 2College Station-Bryan, TX$167,090
- 3San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$152,190
- 4Ann Arbor, MI$141,400
- 5Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$139,400
- 6Lexington-Fayette, KY$138,980
- 7San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$133,360
- 8Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$132,790
- 9Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$130,310
- 10Lincoln, NE$128,750
- 11Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$128,640
- 12Amherst Town-Northampton, MA$114,880
Related job titles
Employers advertise Physics Teachers, Postsecondary roles under these titles.
- Acoustics Teacher
- Adjunct Physics Instructor
- Aerodynamics Professor
- Aerodynamics Teacher
- Astrophysics Professor
- Astrophysics Teacher
- Atomic Physics Professor
- Atomic Physics Teacher
- Ballistics Professor
- Ballistics Teacher
- Geospatial Analysis Instructor
- Hydrodynamics Professor
- Hydrodynamics Teacher
- Medical Physics Professor
- Medical Physics Teacher
- Nuclear Instructor
Related occupations
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$79,940
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$103,170
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$93,250
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$109,270
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$84,620
- Physicists$172,250
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$94,980
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$42,910
What a Physics Teachers, Postsecondary does
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.
- Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physics Teachers, Postsecondary make?
- The median annual wage for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary is $100,310 ($48 per hour). Pay ranges from about $60,200 at the 10th percentile to $177,850 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Physics Teachers, Postsecondary?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $111,460, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Physics Teachers, Postsecondarys the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $139,420.
- Is Physics Teachers, Postsecondary a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 13K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Physics Teachers, Postsecondary do?
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.; Supervise students' laboratory work.; Maintain and repair laboratory equipment..