Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary in the U.S.
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in the U.S. earn a median of $85,020 a year, based on BLS data for 11,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,420 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $98,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,070 |
| 25th percentile | $65,660 |
| Median | $85,020 |
| 75th percentile | $110,710 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,420 |
| Average (mean) | $98,330 |
Half of area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,085 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,542.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,270 |
| Weekly | $1,635 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $85,020 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $125,450 | 80 |
| Kansas | $107,120 | 90 |
| California | $105,220 | 770 |
| Rhode Island | $104,460 | n/a |
| Maine | $103,060 | 50 |
| New York | $101,800 | 1,520 |
| District of Columbia | $101,700 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $100,470 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $99,900 | 310 |
| New Jersey | $97,500 | 480 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,010 | 260 |
| Maryland | $91,330 | 520 |
| Illinois | $90,030 | 220 |
| Michigan | $87,840 | 460 |
| Virginia | $85,960 | 300 |
| Indiana | $84,970 | 260 |
| Utah | $82,990 | 40 |
| Alaska | $81,700 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $81,580 | 280 |
| Washington | $81,410 | 240 |
| Oregon | $80,310 | 340 |
| Ohio | $80,060 | 390 |
| Colorado | $79,190 | 160 |
| Wisconsin | $78,770 | 180 |
| Montana | $78,690 | 90 |
| Georgia | $77,630 | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $76,600 | 50 |
| Wyoming | $76,170 | 40 |
| Arizona | $75,680 | 240 |
| Tennessee | $75,060 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $74,690 | 90 |
| Texas | $72,250 | 830 |
| West Virginia | $71,200 | 40 |
| Florida | $66,520 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $66,470 | 590 |
| South Carolina | $64,500 | 130 |
| Alabama | $63,090 | 50 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,660 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $145,530 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,270 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,890 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,970 | 90 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $106,140 | 240 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $105,290 | n/a |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $104,460 | n/a |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $104,410 | 70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $103,700 | 1,190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $102,030 | 310 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $101,920 | n/a |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $101,700 | 360 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,180 | 140 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,760 | 140 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $100,140 | 440 |
Metro areas with the most area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,190 | $103,700 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 440 | $100,140 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 360 | $101,700 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 310 | $102,030 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 300 | $80,980 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 240 | $106,140 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 230 | $97,200 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 230 | $81,220 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 220 | $81,120 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 140 | $100,760 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 140 | $101,180 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 120 | $73,010 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 120 | $76,080 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 120 | $78,230 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 120 | $77,900 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1062. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The median salary for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $85,020 a year. Pay ranges from $52,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. earn at least $160,420 a year. The top 25% earn $110,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,070 a year, and a quarter of area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary earn $65,660 or less.
How many area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary work in the U.S.?
About 11,300 area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.