Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary salary in the U.S.
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary in the U.S. earn a median of $80,340 a year, based on BLS data for 41,530 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,600 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $93,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for psychology teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,050 |
| 25th percentile | $63,400 |
| Median | $80,340 |
| 75th percentile | $105,920 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,600 |
| Average (mean) | $93,860 |
Half of psychology 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 | $6,695 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,347.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,090 |
| Weekly | $1,545 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because psychology 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 $80,340 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $107,340 | 4,410 |
| Delaware | $102,340 | n/a |
| Maryland | $101,430 | 640 |
| District of Columbia | $101,250 | 340 |
| New York | $100,720 | 4,070 |
| Michigan | $99,900 | 920 |
| North Dakota | $97,110 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $95,030 | 110 |
| Rhode Island | $94,360 | 180 |
| Utah | $93,090 | 200 |
| Louisiana | $91,340 | 140 |
| Connecticut | $84,500 | 920 |
| New Mexico | $83,600 | 100 |
| Idaho | $83,010 | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $82,930 | 2,640 |
| Minnesota | $82,640 | 760 |
| Maine | $81,660 | 110 |
| Nevada | $81,300 | 140 |
| Vermont | $81,100 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $80,790 | 1,630 |
| Oregon | $80,060 | 660 |
| Kansas | $79,730 | 230 |
| Georgia | $79,440 | 820 |
| Missouri | $79,240 | 590 |
| Alaska | $79,040 | 70 |
| Arizona | $78,610 | 940 |
| Ohio | $78,530 | 1,500 |
| Iowa | $78,450 | 320 |
| Washington | $78,330 | 840 |
| Virginia | $77,950 | 1,050 |
| Illinois | $77,860 | 2,260 |
| Indiana | $77,820 | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $77,580 | 630 |
| Nebraska | $77,340 | 170 |
| Montana | $77,120 | 90 |
| Texas | $77,060 | 3,380 |
| Colorado | $76,810 | 960 |
| Tennessee | $76,010 | 790 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,960 | 2,120 |
| Alabama | $75,340 | 610 |
| North Carolina | $75,260 | 1,100 |
| South Carolina | $74,890 | 390 |
| Kentucky | $74,520 | 590 |
| West Virginia | $74,280 | 150 |
| Florida | $69,050 | 1,120 |
| Puerto Rico | $66,580 | 400 |
| Wyoming | $65,050 | 80 |
| South Dakota | $65,020 | 70 |
| Mississippi | $62,590 | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $61,720 | 410 |
| Arkansas | $60,730 | 190 |
Best-paying metro areas for psychology teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $142,840 | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $137,810 | 400 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $133,880 | 230 |
| Fresno, CA | $133,490 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,610 | 330 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $126,690 | 360 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $126,080 | 40 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $109,140 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $105,720 | 440 |
| Wilmington, NC | $105,420 | 80 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $104,560 | 40 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $104,480 | 130 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $103,780 | 110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $102,740 | 3,950 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,980 | 1,830 |
Metro areas with the most psychology teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,950 | $102,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,830 | $101,980 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,690 | $82,930 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,620 | $77,860 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 860 | $77,840 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 710 | $100,980 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 690 | $77,430 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 680 | $77,980 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 560 | $77,950 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 480 | $92,190 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 470 | $72,110 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 460 | $81,780 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 440 | $82,450 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 440 | $105,720 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 440 | $79,400 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1066. 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 psychology teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The median salary for psychology teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $80,340 a year. Pay ranges from $49,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid psychology teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of psychology teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. earn at least $153,600 a year. The top 25% earn $105,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for psychology teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,050 a year, and a quarter of psychology teachers, postsecondary earn $63,400 or less.
How many psychology teachers, postsecondary work in the U.S.?
About 41,530 psychology teachers, postsecondary are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.