Best cities for a college instructor
The best cities for college instructors are San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for college instructors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for college instructors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a college instructor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for college instructors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for college instructors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a college instructor. While the absolute best city for college instructors is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for college instructors in 2024.
If you're looking for a college instructor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for college instructors in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total college instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $80,362 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Oakland, CA
Total college instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $80,189 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Fremont, CA
Total college instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,971 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. San Jose, CA
Total college instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,868 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Stockton, CA
Total college instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,323 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Sacramento, CA
Total college instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,260 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Anchorage, AK
Total college instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $65,694 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Fresno, CA
Total college instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $77,645 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Los Angeles, CA
Total college instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $74,245 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Boston, MA
Total college instructor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $68,126 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 1.68
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Best cities for college instructors
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Fresno, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Boston, MA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a college instructor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $80,362 | $49,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $80,189 | $49,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $79,971 | $49,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $79,868 | $49,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 5 | Stockton, CA | $79,323 | $49,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $79,260 | $49,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 7 | Anchorage, AK | $65,694 | $46,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $77,645 | $48,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $74,245 | $46,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $68,126 | $43,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 11 | Long Beach, CA | $73,665 | $46,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 12 | Bakersfield, CA | $76,239 | $47,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 13 | Anaheim, CA | $73,451 | $46,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 14 | Santa Ana, CA | $73,262 | $46,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $58,492 | $39,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 16 | Irvine, CA | $73,040 | $46,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 17 | Riverside, CA | $72,963 | $46,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $62,143 | $39,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,486 | $42,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 20 | Durham, NC | $54,114 | $35,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $61,482 | $42,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $71,214 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | 1 |
| 23 | Chula Vista, CA | $70,975 | $45,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $48,423 | $32,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 25 | Milwaukee, WI | $55,191 | $37,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 26 | Madison, WI | $55,029 | $37,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $52,279 | $33,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 28 | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,142 | $33,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 29 | Seattle, WA | $63,388 | $40,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 30 | Raleigh, NC | $54,034 | $35,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 31 | Greensboro, NC | $53,974 | $36,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 32 | Winston-Salem, NC | $53,936 | $36,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 33 | Memphis, TN | $47,922 | $32,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 34 | Charlotte, NC | $53,357 | $35,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 35 | Omaha, NE | $51,264 | $35,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 36 | Fort Wayne, IN | $49,018 | $33,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 37 | Lincoln, NE | $51,153 | $35,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 38 | Indianapolis, IN | $48,477 | $33,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 39 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $53,423 | $33,000 | 260,999 | - |
| 40 | Hialeah, FL | $52,736 | $32,000 | 236,387 | - |
| 41 | Tampa, FL | $53,372 | $33,000 | 377,165 | - |
| 42 | Miami, FL | $52,706 | $32,000 | 453,579 | - |
| 43 | Orlando, FL | $52,947 | $33,000 | 277,173 | - |
| 44 | Lexington, KY | $47,480 | $32,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 45 | Louisville, KY | $47,434 | $32,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 46 | Reno, NV | $49,257 | $30,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 47 | Wichita, KS | $47,834 | $32,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 48 | Jacksonville, FL | $52,881 | $34,000 | 880,619 | - |
| 49 | Jersey City, NJ | $57,421 | $37,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 50 | Kansas City, MO | $49,372 | $33,000 | 481,420 | - |
Highest paying cities for college instructors
| Rank | City | Avg. college instructor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino, CA | $80,048 |
| 2 | Eugene, OR | $62,448 |
| 3 | Ann Arbor, MI | $58,112 |
| 4 | New Brunswick, NJ | $56,987 |
| 5 | Rocky Mount, NC | $54,479 |
| 6 | Fort Collins, CO | $53,871 |
| 7 | Sarasota, FL | $53,396 |
| 8 | Erie, PA | $51,478 |
| 9 | Utica, NY | $50,525 |
| 10 | Clarksville, TN | $48,536 |
| 11 | Hartford, CT | $48,161 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $47,250 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,218 |
| 14 | Sugar Land, TX | $46,777 |
| 15 | Monroe, LA | $46,478 |
| 16 | Bozeman, MT | $45,520 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $44,073 |
| 18 | Gainesville, GA | $43,605 |
| 19 | Athens, OH | $41,598 |
| 20 | Elgin, IL | $41,528 |
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Updated January 8, 2025