Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1065) earn a median $98,070 a year in the United States, with 16,970 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Massachusetts.
What political science teachers, postsecondary do
Political science teachers instruct college students in political science, international affairs, and international relations. They lecture on topics ranging from classical political thought to international relations and democracy and citizenship, moderate classroom discussions, assign and grade papers and examinations, and read current scholarship. Research-active faculty also publish studies and books. Teachers of law, history, and economics are counted in their own categories. Alternate titles show appointments from adjunct instructor through assistant and associate professor, and some faculty simply carry the title of college faculty member. Beyond teaching, they prepare syllabi and other course materials, plan and revise curricula, and keep up with developments in the field through colleagues and professional organizations. The occupation includes those primarily engaged in teaching as well as those who combine teaching with research.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a doctoral degree.
Also called: Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Political Science Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 16,970 |
| Annual | $56,450 | $73,260 | $98,070 | $129,130 | $174,660 | $108,100 | ||
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 political science 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 | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 920 | 0.25 | 2.31 |
| Annual | $78,380 | $99,500 | $128,150 | $164,850 | $219,420 | $137,010 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,060 | 0.06 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $67,510 | $100,380 | $124,890 | $165,810 | $212,210 | $136,290 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.13 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $66,040 | $85,060 | $124,110 | $165,930 | $310,170 | $150,490 | ||||
| Montana | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $58,930 | $83,240 | $109,050 | $157,450 | $189,060 | $121,230 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.26 | 2.36 |
| Annual | $76,060 | $88,310 | $107,490 | $130,650 | $169,790 | $117,620 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,890 | 0.13 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $49,010 | $63,840 | $86,950 | $120,690 | $168,900 | $102,650 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,460 | 0.15 | 1.38 |
| Annual | $64,100 | $77,670 | $104,050 | $139,500 | $211,420 | $123,780 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,120 | 1.60 | 14.67 |
| Annual | $63,270 | $80,290 | $102,310 | $127,550 | $167,860 | $103,490 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,060 | 0.06 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $67,510 | $100,380 | $124,890 | $165,810 | $212,210 | $136,290 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 920 | 0.25 | 2.31 |
| Annual | $78,380 | $99,500 | $128,150 | $164,850 | $219,420 | $137,010 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.04 | 0.35 |
| Annual | $83,370 | $112,220 | $150,940 | $209,350 | $250,700 | $161,260 | ||||
| Ann Arbor, MI | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 140 | 0.66 | 6.04 |
| Annual | $81,100 | $109,350 | $137,430 | $225,510 | $314,500 | $166,230 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 670 | 0.25 | 2.27 |
| Annual | $81,820 | $101,040 | $131,690 | $173,890 | $258,520 | $147,740 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.06 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $70,840 | $118,940 | $131,440 | $170,390 | $243,970 | $142,960 | ||||
| Fresno, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 30 | 0.07 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $76,450 | $105,900 | $128,820 | $166,970 | $179,460 | $135,430 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,480 | 0.47 | 4.31 |
| Annual | $63,270 | $80,290 | $102,310 | $131,470 | $167,860 | $109,170 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,220 | 0.13 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $63,230 | $75,080 | $107,070 | $142,880 | $211,420 | $122,820 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 670 | 0.25 | 2.27 |
| Annual | $81,820 | $101,040 | $131,690 | $173,890 | $258,520 | $147,740 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 430 | 0.36 | 3.29 |
| Annual | $72,120 | $72,120 | $82,480 | $111,100 | $133,350 | $97,040 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 420 | 0.07 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $67,220 | $100,380 | $119,590 | $164,900 | $209,220 | $133,190 | ||||
Top industries employing political science teachers, postsecondary
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools employ 89.3% of political science teachers, postsecondary nationally (15,150 jobs) at a median $99,210 a year, followed by Junior Colleges (10.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 15,150 | 89.3% | $99,210 | * |
| Junior Colleges NAICS 611200 | 1,810 | 10.7% | $83,470 | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (16,970). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $81,980 for political science teachers, postsecondary in May 2021 and $98,070 in May 2025, with employment of 14,060 and 16,970.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $81,980 | * | 14,060 |
| May 2022 | $83,770 | * | 15,190 |
| May 2023 | $93,810 | * | 17,090 |
| May 2024 | $94,680 | * | 17,170 |
| May 2025 | $98,070 | * | 16,970 |
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
45 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 | Massachusetts profile | * | $128,150 | $78,380 | $219,420 | 920 | 0.25 | 2.31 |
| 2 | California profile | * | $124,890 | $67,510 | $212,210 | 1,060 | 0.06 | 0.53 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | * | $124,110 | $66,040 | $310,170 | 90 | 0.13 | 1.18 |
| 4 | Montana profile | * | $109,050 | $58,930 | $189,060 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Vermont profile | * | $107,490 | $76,060 | $169,790 | 80 | 0.26 | 2.36 |
| 6 | Michigan profile | * | $107,060 | $61,020 | $225,510 | 380 | 0.09 | 0.79 |
| 7 | Maryland profile | * | $105,630 | $66,810 | $219,530 | 370 | 0.13 | 1.23 |
| 8 | New York profile | * | $104,050 | $64,100 | $211,420 | 1,460 | 0.15 | 1.38 |
| 9 | District of Columbia profile | * | $102,310 | $63,270 | $167,860 | 1,120 | 1.60 | 14.67 |
| 10 | Virginia profile | * | $101,430 | $59,600 | $176,660 | 830 | 0.20 | 1.86 |
| 11 | Rhode Island profile | * | $101,320 | $62,640 | $156,820 | 170 | 0.33 | 3.04 |
| 12 | Washington profile | * | $101,140 | $55,190 | $133,930 | 450 | 0.13 | 1.16 |
| 13 | Illinois profile | * | $100,700 | $60,220 | $135,810 | 460 | 0.08 | 0.69 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | * | $100,260 | $32,220 | $171,420 | 650 | 0.15 | 1.39 |
| 15 | Connecticut profile | * | $100,230 | $62,570 | $227,470 | 320 | 0.19 | 1.70 |
| 16 | Arizona profile | * | $99,910 | $60,060 | $130,530 | 190 | 0.06 | 0.53 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania profile | * | $97,230 | $61,350 | $152,080 | 660 | 0.11 | 0.99 |
| 18 | Minnesota profile | * | $97,170 | $73,670 | $168,550 | 250 | 0.08 | 0.76 |
| 19 | Maine profile | * | $96,760 | $65,870 | $177,690 | 60 | 0.10 | 0.89 |
| 20 | Missouri profile | * | $94,500 | $52,670 | $214,900 | 280 | 0.10 | 0.87 |
| 21 | Nevada profile | * | $93,300 | $72,400 | $144,260 | 70 | 0.05 | 0.42 |
| 22 | Louisiana profile | * | $88,090 | $49,990 | $147,350 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.31 |
| 23 | Texas profile | * | $86,950 | $49,010 | $168,900 | 1,890 | 0.13 | 1.23 |
| 24 | Nebraska profile | * | $86,380 | $58,490 | $125,370 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.49 |
| 25 | Wyoming profile | * | $84,750 | $47,500 | $126,140 | 40 | 0.14 | 1.23 |
| 26 | Indiana profile | * | $83,770 | $52,290 | $165,540 | 630 | 0.20 | 1.79 |
| 27 | Oregon profile | * | $83,580 | $72,120 | $133,350 | 540 | 0.28 | 2.53 |
| 28 | Wisconsin profile | * | $83,190 | $62,310 | $187,820 | 290 | 0.10 | 0.91 |
| 29 | Tennessee profile | * | $81,330 | $60,040 | $151,760 | 250 | 0.08 | 0.69 |
| 30 | New Mexico profile | * | $80,640 | $60,120 | $127,840 | 40 | 0.05 | 0.41 |
| 31 | Utah profile | * | $80,610 | $46,010 | $129,810 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.39 |
| 32 | Iowa profile | * | $80,160 | $48,470 | $167,090 | 100 | 0.07 | 0.61 |
| 33 | Ohio profile | * | $80,090 | $46,910 | $126,940 | 460 | 0.08 | 0.76 |
| 34 | Georgia profile | * | $79,870 | $48,710 | $152,460 | 470 | 0.10 | 0.87 |
| 35 | Kansas profile | * | $78,800 | $54,120 | $140,380 | 80 | 0.06 | 0.54 |
| 36 | North Carolina profile | * | $78,760 | $47,240 | $144,630 | 440 | 0.09 | 0.82 |
| 37 | Kentucky profile | * | $78,670 | $38,220 | $176,620 | 140 | 0.07 | 0.64 |
| 38 | South Carolina profile | * | $78,650 | $41,130 | $129,350 | 210 | 0.09 | 0.85 |
| 39 | Alabama profile | * | $77,860 | $51,650 | $139,270 | 180 | 0.09 | 0.79 |
| 40 | Florida profile | * | $77,860 | $52,460 | $163,370 | 270 | 0.03 | 0.25 |
| 41 | West Virginia profile | * | $77,420 | $43,370 | $125,170 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.88 |
| 42 | South Dakota profile | * | $72,580 | $59,740 | $101,620 | 30 | 0.07 | 0.67 |
| 43 | Oklahoma profile | * | $63,400 | $30,330 | $127,990 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.47 |
| 44 | Mississippi profile | * | $59,270 | $44,700 | $90,100 | 90 | 0.08 | 0.71 |
| 45 | Arkansas profile | * | $58,350 | $56,420 | $79,000 | 80 | 0.06 | 0.57 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (25-1060), 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 25-1065 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment 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 25-1065, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 25-1065.00, 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.