Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1054) earn a median $100,310 a year in the United States, with 13,090 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What physics teachers, postsecondary do
Physics teachers at colleges and universities teach the laws of matter and energy, with lectures on subjects such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics. They design course materials, give lectures, supervise laboratory work, write and grade examinations, and keep records. Some faculty also run experimental or theoretical research programs. Chemistry and the earth and space sciences are counted under separate teacher categories. Lectures reach into specialties such as acoustics and aerodynamics, according to alternate titles. Faculty also maintain regular office hours to advise and assist students, supervise undergraduate and graduate teaching, internship, and research work, and moderate classroom discussions. Ranks run from adjunct instructor to assistant and associate professor. Faculty also compile and grade examinations and keep student attendance and grade records.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a doctoral degree.
Also called: Acoustics Teacher, Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Physics Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Aerodynamics Professor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 13,090 |
| Annual | $60,200 | $74,050 | $100,310 | $132,650 | $177,850 | $111,460 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where physics teachers, postsecondary earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,130 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $80,060 | $105,810 | $139,420 | $213,730 | $292,150 | $166,780 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 260 | 0.15 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $65,270 | $78,820 | $112,410 | $160,000 | $214,810 | $128,500 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 680 | 0.19 | 2.23 |
| Annual | $63,660 | $80,650 | $111,280 | $167,490 | $213,120 | $133,680 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 300 | 0.11 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $63,130 | $78,980 | $110,980 | $155,290 | $223,870 | $130,770 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 460 | 0.10 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $55,450 | $82,360 | $109,090 | $140,800 | $176,760 | $115,750 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,130 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $80,060 | $105,810 | $139,420 | $213,730 | $292,150 | $166,780 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,110 | 0.08 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $60,590 | $67,890 | $97,760 | $124,230 | $167,090 | $104,240 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,080 | 0.11 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $61,320 | $77,810 | $103,100 | $134,850 | $209,940 | $115,260 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 680 | 0.19 | 2.23 |
| Annual | $63,660 | $80,650 | $111,280 | $167,490 | $213,120 | $133,680 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 610 | 0.15 | 1.75 |
| Annual | $52,640 | $66,310 | $104,490 | $138,500 | $171,100 | $105,830 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 440 | 0.07 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $80,850 | $121,860 | $172,510 | $228,850 | $282,760 | $181,010 | ||||
| College Station-Bryan, TX | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.62 | 7.42 |
| Annual | $79,230 | $102,770 | $167,090 | $206,180 | $261,020 | $159,810 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.08 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $96,240 | $116,260 | $152,190 | $204,860 | $292,150 | $164,460 | ||||
| Ann Arbor, MI | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.36 | 4.25 |
| Annual | $86,470 | $110,240 | $141,400 | $172,890 | $172,890 | $140,250 | ||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 60 | 0.03 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $76,980 | $101,780 | $139,400 | $211,040 | $250,700 | $156,870 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 870 | 0.09 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $52,790 | $76,910 | $104,690 | $140,520 | $209,940 | $116,860 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 510 | 0.19 | 2.22 |
| Annual | $63,310 | $82,570 | $128,640 | $169,590 | $266,950 | $141,400 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 440 | 0.07 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $80,850 | $121,860 | $172,510 | $228,850 | $282,760 | $181,010 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 340 | 0.11 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $61,310 | $77,420 | $95,430 | $125,920 | $155,290 | $100,980 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 330 | 0.07 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $61,150 | $62,770 | $83,830 | $123,960 | $132,310 | $96,480 | ||||
Top industries employing physics teachers, postsecondary
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools employ 84.8% of physics teachers, postsecondary nationally (11,100 jobs) at a median $101,860 a year, followed by Junior Colleges (15.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 11,100 | 84.8% | $101,860 | * |
| Junior Colleges NAICS 611200 | 1,990 | 15.2% | $84,850 | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (13,090). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $93,070 for physics teachers, postsecondary in May 2021 and $100,310 in May 2025, with employment of 12,460 and 13,090.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $93,070 | * | 12,460 |
| May 2022 | $86,550 | * | 12,860 |
| May 2023 | $98,020 | * | 14,030 |
| May 2024 | $97,360 | * | 13,590 |
| May 2025 | $100,310 | * | 13,090 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
47 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | * | $139,420 | $80,060 | $292,150 | 1,130 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| 2 | Connecticut profile | * | $112,410 | $65,270 | $214,810 | 260 | 0.15 | 1.80 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | * | $111,280 | $63,660 | $213,120 | 680 | 0.19 | 2.23 |
| 4 | Maryland profile | * | $110,980 | $63,130 | $223,870 | 300 | 0.11 | 1.29 |
| 5 | Michigan profile | * | $109,090 | $55,450 | $176,760 | 460 | 0.10 | 1.23 |
| 6 | New Mexico profile | * | $108,850 | $80,800 | $142,800 | 70 | 0.09 | 1.02 |
| 7 | Delaware profile | * | $108,810 | $83,040 | $214,320 | 70 | 0.14 | 1.64 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | * | $107,240 | $65,150 | $164,950 | 250 | 0.08 | 1.00 |
| 9 | Idaho profile | * | $106,040 | $64,340 | $148,100 | 50 | 0.06 | 0.69 |
| 10 | Virginia profile | * | $104,490 | $52,640 | $171,100 | 610 | 0.15 | 1.75 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | * | $104,320 | $71,310 | $164,720 | 230 | 0.12 | 1.42 |
| 12 | Iowa profile | * | $104,270 | $66,490 | $222,150 | 120 | 0.08 | 0.93 |
| 13 | Maine profile | * | $104,270 | $67,750 | $180,530 | 60 | 0.09 | 1.08 |
| 14 | New York profile | * | $103,100 | $61,320 | $209,940 | 1,080 | 0.11 | 1.32 |
| 15 | Indiana profile | * | $102,970 | $61,600 | $161,080 | 270 | 0.09 | 1.02 |
| 16 | North Dakota profile | * | $101,700 | $62,200 | $139,990 | 40 | 0.08 | 0.98 |
| 17 | Georgia profile | * | $101,580 | $63,710 | $168,000 | 210 | 0.04 | 0.51 |
| 18 | Missouri profile | * | $99,970 | $56,140 | $164,810 | 230 | 0.08 | 0.91 |
| 19 | Utah profile | * | $99,860 | $51,610 | $159,570 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.79 |
| 20 | Colorado profile | * | $99,280 | $52,870 | $161,810 | 280 | 0.10 | 1.15 |
| 21 | New Hampshire profile | * | $99,050 | $53,630 | $235,610 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.66 |
| 22 | New Jersey profile | * | $98,920 | $34,480 | $178,220 | 530 | 0.12 | 1.46 |
| 23 | Nebraska profile | * | $98,460 | $61,240 | $165,280 | 70 | 0.07 | 0.86 |
| 24 | Vermont profile | * | $98,390 | $64,570 | $129,260 | 50 | 0.15 | 1.79 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania profile | * | $98,370 | $59,160 | $134,610 | 580 | 0.10 | 1.13 |
| 26 | West Virginia profile | * | $98,320 | $56,940 | $129,780 | 50 | 0.07 | 0.80 |
| 27 | Montana profile | * | $98,050 | $59,950 | $170,770 | 70 | 0.13 | 1.52 |
| 28 | Texas profile | * | $97,760 | $60,590 | $167,090 | 1,110 | 0.08 | 0.94 |
| 29 | Kansas profile | * | $97,140 | $48,440 | $171,150 | 110 | 0.08 | 0.88 |
| 30 | Washington profile | * | $96,930 | $57,580 | $166,100 | 310 | 0.09 | 1.04 |
| 31 | Nevada profile | * | $96,330 | $68,050 | $133,100 | 90 | 0.06 | 0.71 |
| 32 | Ohio profile | * | $96,310 | $47,960 | $132,700 | 420 | 0.08 | 0.91 |
| 33 | Illinois profile | * | $94,900 | $61,150 | $166,410 | 540 | 0.09 | 1.05 |
| 34 | Oklahoma profile | * | $91,580 | $48,730 | $132,750 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.62 |
| 35 | Louisiana profile | * | $90,040 | $59,080 | $151,240 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.55 |
| 36 | Wisconsin profile | * | $89,630 | $68,560 | $175,810 | 210 | 0.07 | 0.85 |
| 37 | North Carolina profile | * | $87,370 | $54,890 | $143,460 | 440 | 0.09 | 1.07 |
| 38 | South Dakota profile | * | $86,010 | $56,590 | $107,950 | 30 | 0.08 | 0.89 |
| 39 | District of Columbia profile | * | $85,190 | $63,260 | $130,370 | 130 | 0.19 | 2.25 |
| 40 | Alabama profile | * | $82,750 | $58,510 | $121,120 | 170 | 0.08 | 0.97 |
| 41 | South Carolina profile | * | $81,210 | $61,470 | $128,940 | 150 | 0.07 | 0.77 |
| 42 | Tennessee profile | * | $80,630 | $57,590 | $157,710 | 340 | 0.11 | 1.25 |
| 43 | Kentucky profile | * | $80,270 | $37,810 | $138,980 | 160 | 0.08 | 0.94 |
| 44 | Florida profile | * | $74,050 | $55,370 | $104,870 | 180 | 0.02 | 0.22 |
| 45 | Mississippi profile | * | $71,160 | $57,370 | $121,310 | 100 | 0.08 | 0.97 |
| 46 | Arizona profile | * | $65,730 | $61,040 | $139,860 | 350 | 0.11 | 1.29 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | * | $64,900 | $46,730 | $130,830 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.30 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (25-1050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Educational Instruction and Library Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 25-1054 Physics Teachers, Postsecondary.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them. A withheld or top-coded cell in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 25-1054, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 25-1054.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.