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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Here's what the national average hides about Postsecondary Teacher pay: The national median salary for Postsecondary Teachers in 2026 is $97,469, with entry-level positions averaging $56,532 and senior roles reaching $146,204. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $178,080, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Education within the broader Education industry, Postsecondary Teachers typically hold Master's or PhD. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is campus/hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$108,360 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Postsecondary Teacher in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $178,080 — $108,360 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($69,720). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Postsecondary Teachers in 2026: $56,532 at entry (P10), $97,469 at midpoint, and $146,204 at the senior end (P90). But raw salary is only half the story. The $89,672 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $17,102 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $166,320, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $70,280. The $96,040 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Postsecondary Teacher in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $178,080 — $108,360 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($69,720). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Postsecondary Teacher is $56,532, while senior-level (P90) earners average $146,204. That $89,672 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Postsecondary Teachers pull in an average of $146,204. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Postsecondary Teachers average $56,532 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $56,532 | $97,469 | $146,204 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £36,396 | £50,549 | £71,780 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$67,685 | CA$94,006 | CA$133,489 |
| Australia | 13 | A$80,263 | A$111,476 | A$158,296 |
| Sweden | 24 | 433,393 kr | 601,935 kr | 854,748 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $68,440 | $117,999 | $176,999 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $66,138 | $114,030 | $171,045 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $65,772 | $113,400 | $170,100 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $60,900 | $105,000 | $157,500 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $60,169 | $103,740 | $155,610 |
| Washington | 8 | $59,012 | $101,745 | $152,618 |
| New York | 5 | $55,541 | $95,760 | $143,640 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $55,541 | $95,760 | $143,640 |
| Florida | 22 | $55,120 | $95,035 | $142,552 |
| Colorado | 11 | $54,168 | $93,393 | $140,089 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $54,079 | $93,240 | $139,860 |
| Nevada | 5 | $53,982 | $93,072 | $139,608 |
| Arizona | 12 | $53,714 | $92,610 | $138,915 |
| Oregon | 5 | $53,592 | $92,400 | $138,600 |
| Idaho | 3 | $53,430 | $92,120 | $138,180 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $53,007 | $91,392 | $137,088 |
| Utah | 4 | $52,861 | $91,140 | $136,710 |
| Virginia | 7 | $51,991 | $89,640 | $134,460 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $51,318 | $88,480 | $132,720 |
| Alaska | 1 | $51,156 | $88,200 | $132,300 |
| Illinois | 5 | $50,571 | $87,192 | $130,788 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $49,316 | $85,027 | $127,540 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $48,720 | $84,000 | $126,000 |
| Montana | 1 | $48,720 | $84,000 | $126,000 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $48,558 | $83,720 | $125,580 |
| Texas | 40 | $48,318 | $83,307 | $124,961 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $48,233 | $83,160 | $124,740 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $47,989 | $82,740 | $124,110 |
| Georgia | 6 | $47,827 | $82,460 | $123,690 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $47,746 | $82,320 | $123,480 |
| Kansas | 4 | $47,502 | $81,900 | $122,850 |
| Michigan | 6 | $47,340 | $81,620 | $122,430 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $46,772 | $80,640 | $120,960 |
| Maryland | 1 | $46,771 | $80,640 | $120,960 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $46,284 | $79,800 | $119,700 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $46,284 | $79,800 | $119,700 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $45,066 | $77,700 | $116,550 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $44,822 | $77,280 | $115,920 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $44,213 | $76,230 | $114,345 |
| Missouri | 4 | $44,214 | $76,230 | $114,345 |
| Alabama | 5 | $44,043 | $75,936 | $113,904 |
| Indiana | 3 | $43,361 | $74,760 | $112,140 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $43,361 | $74,760 | $112,140 |
| Iowa | 2 | $42,874 | $73,920 | $110,880 |
| Ohio | 6 | $42,793 | $73,780 | $110,670 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $40,925 | $70,560 | $105,840 |
The state salary map for Postsecondary Teachers: California at $117,999, Massachusetts at $114,030, Hawaii at $113,400 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($70,560), Ohio ($73,780), Iowa ($73,920) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $47,439.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($178,080 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $84,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $178,080 | 212 | $84,000 | $104,991 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $166,320 | 198 | $84,000 | $98,517 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $154,560 | 184 | $84,000 | $92,043 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $152,040 | 181 | $84,000 | $90,656 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $149,520 | 178 | $84,000 | $89,268 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $148,680 | 177 | $84,000 | $88,806 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $148,680 | 177 | $84,000 | $88,806 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $145,320 | 173 | $84,000 | $86,956 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $145,320 | 173 | $84,000 | $86,956 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $141,960 | 169 | $84,000 | $85,106 |
The $89,672 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Postsecondary Teacher career. Senior-level earners make 2.6× what entry-level professionals do — an aggressive growth curve that rewards experience and specialization. In the Education sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Postsecondary Teachers is $97,469 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $56,532, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $146,204.
The highest-paying city for Postsecondary Teachers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $178,080. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($178,080), Santa Clara ($166,320), Irvine ($154,560). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Postsecondary Teacher salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $69,720. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Postsecondary Teachers (10th percentile) average $56,532 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $103,286. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Postsecondary Teachers average $146,204 nationally — $89,672 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Postsecondary Teachers can earn up to $267,120.
The top-paying states for Postsecondary Teachers are California ($117,999 median), Massachusetts ($114,030 median), Hawaii ($113,400 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Postsecondary Teacher involves Master's or PhD. The field is in the Education sector (Education), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically campus/hybrid.
With a national median of $97,469 and representation across 288 metro areas, Postsecondary Teacher offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $89,672 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.