Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1067) earn a median $84,290 a year in the United States, with 11,850 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What sociology teachers, postsecondary do
Sociology teachers give college courses on the discipline of sociology, with lectures on subjects like race and ethnic relations, how data are measured and collected, and social relations at work. They prepare syllabi, deliver lectures, moderate classroom discussions, compile and grade examinations, and track new scholarship. Faculty with research duties conduct studies and publish them in journals, books, or electronic media. Anthropology, psychology, and area studies teachers are counted separately. Titles run from adjunct instructor to assistant, associate, and full professor, and some faculty are listed as comparative sociology professors. In addition to grading class work, assignments, and papers, they plan and revise curricula, course content, and methods of instruction. Duties differ with the appointment, since the code takes in faculty who mainly teach and 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 Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, College Faculty Member.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 11,850 |
| Annual | $49,930 | $64,990 | $84,290 | $110,650 | $160,140 | $96,980 | ||
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 sociology 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 | * | * | * | * | * | * | 810 | 0.05 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $71,710 | $96,530 | $127,680 | $167,290 | $233,850 | $138,470 | ||||
| Delaware | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $59,090 | $77,780 | $123,710 | $160,340 | $216,680 | $120,960 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.06 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $80,450 | $98,950 | $112,890 | $133,090 | $167,700 | $118,270 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.10 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $66,410 | $87,550 | $103,160 | $141,010 | $224,340 | $120,640 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 370 | 0.09 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $54,660 | $82,320 | $102,870 | $111,290 | $174,740 | $104,910 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,130 | 0.12 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $61,360 | $75,810 | $97,540 | $128,210 | $203,820 | $108,130 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,040 | 0.07 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $47,130 | $61,670 | $81,220 | $101,880 | $133,610 | $89,210 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 810 | 0.05 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $71,710 | $96,530 | $127,680 | $167,290 | $233,850 | $138,470 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 580 | 0.16 | 2.10 |
| Annual | $61,200 | $75,420 | $96,790 | $132,760 | $195,940 | $109,340 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 550 | 0.13 | 1.68 |
| Annual | $32,220 | $32,220 | $78,350 | $108,710 | $156,300 | $86,430 | ||||
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 | 0.56 |
| Annual | $77,280 | $115,220 | $157,630 | $212,390 | $250,700 | $161,030 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 110 | 0.07 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $75,820 | $108,740 | $141,950 | $172,130 | $233,850 | $147,450 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
| Annual | $71,240 | $96,630 | $132,930 | $195,070 | $226,620 | $141,910 | ||||
| Madison, WI | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.20 | 2.60 |
| Annual | $50,180 | $83,010 | $132,640 | $207,890 | $223,570 | $146,900 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 280 | 0.05 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $66,470 | $80,500 | $128,010 | $175,300 | $239,900 | $142,360 | ||||
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 | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,020 | 0.11 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $32,220 | $72,980 | $99,850 | $129,780 | $209,240 | $108,090 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 400 | 0.15 | 1.97 |
| Annual | $59,470 | $76,110 | $103,810 | $137,370 | $207,970 | $114,330 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 310 | 0.07 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $53,260 | $65,250 | $86,040 | $106,490 | $127,830 | $91,010 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 280 | 0.05 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $66,470 | $80,500 | $128,010 | $175,300 | $239,900 | $142,360 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 210 | 0.07 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $32,220 | $60,880 | $95,620 | $123,710 | $163,800 | $99,380 | ||||
Top industries employing sociology teachers, postsecondary
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools employ 77.2% of sociology teachers, postsecondary nationally (9,150 jobs) at a median $85,030 a year, followed by Junior Colleges (22.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 9,150 | 77.2% | $85,030 | * |
| Junior Colleges NAICS 611200 | 2,700 | 22.8% | $81,230 | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (11,850). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $77,980 for sociology teachers, postsecondary in May 2021 and $84,290 in May 2025, with employment of 12,550 and 11,850.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $77,980 | * | 12,550 |
| May 2022 | $78,970 | * | 12,030 |
| May 2023 | $82,670 | * | 12,870 |
| May 2024 | $82,540 | * | 12,380 |
| May 2025 | $84,290 | * | 11,850 |
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
46 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 | * | $127,680 | $71,710 | $233,850 | 810 | 0.05 | 0.59 |
| 2 | Delaware profile | * | $123,710 | $59,090 | $216,680 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | * | $112,890 | $80,450 | $167,700 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.79 |
| 4 | District of Columbia profile | * | $103,160 | $66,410 | $224,340 | 70 | 0.10 | 1.28 |
| 5 | Michigan profile | * | $102,870 | $54,660 | $174,740 | 370 | 0.09 | 1.11 |
| 6 | Oregon profile | * | $101,960 | $67,710 | $147,770 | 150 | 0.08 | 1.03 |
| 7 | Connecticut profile | * | $101,490 | $67,800 | $201,880 | 320 | 0.19 | 2.48 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania profile | * | $99,660 | $48,420 | $132,230 | 440 | 0.07 | 0.95 |
| 9 | Utah profile | * | $99,350 | $65,630 | $131,770 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.51 |
| 10 | New York profile | * | $97,540 | $61,360 | $203,820 | 1,130 | 0.12 | 1.53 |
| 11 | Massachusetts profile | * | $96,790 | $61,200 | $195,940 | 580 | 0.16 | 2.10 |
| 12 | Maryland profile | * | $95,980 | $54,180 | $172,980 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.95 |
| 13 | Vermont profile | * | $87,620 | $36,270 | $123,950 | 40 | 0.14 | 1.78 |
| 14 | Nevada profile | * | $87,480 | $66,720 | $103,870 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.82 |
| 15 | Minnesota profile | * | $87,340 | $62,470 | $131,700 | 240 | 0.08 | 1.06 |
| 16 | Wisconsin profile | * | $84,960 | $62,220 | $176,150 | 450 | 0.15 | 1.99 |
| 17 | Georgia profile | * | $84,330 | $54,230 | $162,850 | 230 | 0.05 | 0.63 |
| 18 | Idaho profile | * | $84,140 | $71,200 | $127,980 | 50 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| 19 | Louisiana profile | * | $83,700 | $56,790 | $124,130 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.55 |
| 20 | Washington profile | * | $83,140 | $55,610 | $119,310 | 200 | 0.06 | 0.72 |
| 21 | Illinois profile | * | $82,610 | $52,260 | $131,440 | 440 | 0.07 | 0.94 |
| 22 | Iowa profile | * | $81,910 | $49,460 | $150,230 | 140 | 0.09 | 1.21 |
| 23 | Texas profile | * | $81,220 | $47,130 | $133,610 | 1,040 | 0.07 | 0.97 |
| 24 | Indiana profile | * | $79,880 | $52,680 | $145,190 | 290 | 0.09 | 1.17 |
| 25 | Ohio profile | * | $79,690 | $46,530 | $123,980 | 550 | 0.10 | 1.31 |
| 26 | Colorado profile | * | $78,630 | $41,400 | $139,920 | 220 | 0.08 | 1.01 |
| 27 | Kansas profile | * | $78,630 | $41,950 | $171,420 | 110 | 0.08 | 0.99 |
| 28 | Arizona profile | * | $78,430 | $54,080 | $147,830 | 230 | 0.07 | 0.94 |
| 29 | South Carolina profile | * | $78,410 | $41,440 | $109,170 | 120 | 0.05 | 0.68 |
| 30 | New Jersey profile | * | $78,350 | $32,220 | $156,300 | 550 | 0.13 | 1.68 |
| 31 | Virginia profile | * | $78,120 | $44,980 | $127,460 | 400 | 0.10 | 1.29 |
| 32 | Missouri profile | * | $77,800 | $45,530 | $169,070 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.44 |
| 33 | New Mexico profile | * | $77,740 | $58,390 | $126,680 | 50 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| 34 | West Virginia profile | * | $77,380 | $52,890 | $132,810 | 60 | 0.09 | 1.16 |
| 35 | Tennessee profile | * | $77,370 | $50,030 | $122,820 | 190 | 0.06 | 0.76 |
| 36 | North Carolina profile | * | $76,430 | $45,470 | $109,850 | 550 | 0.11 | 1.45 |
| 37 | Nebraska profile | * | $76,230 | $57,690 | $95,200 | 70 | 0.07 | 0.91 |
| 38 | Maine profile | * | $76,010 | $61,700 | $137,320 | 80 | 0.13 | 1.68 |
| 39 | Montana profile | * | $75,880 | $25,560 | $125,390 | 30 | 0.06 | 0.82 |
| 40 | Alabama profile | * | $73,670 | $48,480 | $104,780 | 210 | 0.10 | 1.30 |
| 41 | Mississippi profile | * | $70,860 | $30,250 | $100,600 | 90 | 0.08 | 1.04 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | * | $64,900 | $30,710 | $88,710 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.89 |
| 43 | South Dakota profile | * | $64,210 | $50,750 | $91,260 | 40 | 0.10 | 1.27 |
| 44 | Florida profile | * | $63,470 | $52,950 | $100,900 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.31 |
| 45 | Arkansas profile | * | $62,390 | $46,630 | $125,310 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.32 |
| 46 | Kentucky profile | * | $61,260 | $35,590 | $136,960 | 150 | 0.08 | 0.98 |
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 25-1067 Sociology 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 25-1067, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 25-1067.00, 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.