Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 17K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$98,070
Median hourly
$47
Average annual
$108,100
Typical range
$56,450–$174,660
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary is $98,070 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 $47 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research..
Most earn between $56,450 and $174,660 a year. There are roughly 17K people employed as political science 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 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary.
- Hourly
- $47.15
- Daily
- $377
- Weekly
- $1,886
- Bi-weekly
- $3,772
- Monthly
- $8,173
- Annual
- $98,070
$98,070 a year is around the 50th percentile for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys. The median is $98,070.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Massachusetts$128,150
- 2California$124,890
- 3New Hampshire$124,110
- 4Montana$109,050
- 5Vermont$107,490
- 6Michigan$107,060
- 7Maryland$105,630
- 8New York$104,050
- 9District of Columbia$102,310
- 10Virginia$101,430
- 11Rhode Island$101,320
- 12Washington$101,140
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$150,940
- 2Ann Arbor, MI$137,430
- 3Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$131,690
- 4Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$131,440
- 5Fresno, CA$128,820
- 6San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$128,050
- 7College Station-Bryan, TX$126,240
- 8Lexington-Fayette, KY$121,300
- 9Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$119,590
- 10San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$118,950
- 11McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX$111,030
- 12Burlington-South Burlington, VT$107,490
Related job titles
Employers advertise Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary roles under these titles.
- Adjunct Political Science Instructor
- Geopolitics Teacher
- Government Instructor
- Government Professor
- Government Teacher
- International Relations Professor
- International Relations Teacher
- Political Science Adjunct Instructor
- Political Science Faculty Member
- Political Science Instructor
- Political Science Professor
- Political Theory Professor
- Public Administration Professor
- Public Administration Teacher
- Public Policy Professor
Related occupations
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary$84,290
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary$128,500
- Political Scientists$142,080
- History Teachers, Postsecondary$83,820
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$123,920
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary$85,020
- Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$80,260
- Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,580
What a Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary does
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Act as advisers to student organizations.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary make?
- The median annual wage for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary is $98,070 ($47 per hour). Pay ranges from about $56,450 at the 10th percentile to $174,660 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $108,100, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Political Science Teachers, Postsecondarys the most?
- Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $128,150.
- Is Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 17K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary do?
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.; Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.; Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records..