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College instructor salary
Average college instructor salary
$50,584
Understanding College Instructor Salaries
As of October 2025, the average college instructor salary is $50,584 per year, translating to about $24 per hour. Salaries can vary based on geographic location, institutional type, and the instructor's level of experience. For instance, instructors at community colleges may earn less compared to those at research universities.
States like California, New York, and Texas typically offer higher salaries for educators due to demand and cost of living adjustments. In addition, instructors with specialized knowledge, such as in STEM fields, often command higher wages.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a significant role; instructors with several years in the field may see salaries rise significantly. Moreover, advanced degrees, such as a Ph.D., can further enhance earning potential. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for those considering a career in teaching at the college level.
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Utilizing platforms like Zippia can help you navigate the job market effectively, showcasing various opportunities available across states and institutions. Stay informed about trends in college instructor salaries to better position yourself for success.
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Where can a College Instructor earn more?
College instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average college instructor salary by state
The average college instructor salary in California, Massachusetts, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average college instructor salary states are Oklahoma, Georgia, and Ohio.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for college instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $65,596 | $31.54 |
| 2 | California | $75,348 | $36.23 |
| 3 | Oregon | $62,257 | $29.93 |
| 4 | Michigan | $58,427 | $28.09 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $67,927 | $32.66 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $57,082 | $27.44 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $53,721 | $25.83 |
| 8 | Iowa | $55,326 | $26.60 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $61,505 | $29.57 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| 11 | Vermont | $53,300 | $25.63 |
| 12 | Washington | $62,748 | $30.17 |
| 13 | Colorado | $53,678 | $25.81 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $63,700 | $30.63 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $55,213 | $26.54 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $50,214 | $24.14 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $54,984 | $26.43 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $54,723 | $26.31 |
| 19 | Florida | $52,893 | $25.43 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $51,224 | $24.63 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| 22 | Indiana | $48,586 | $23.36 |
| 23 | Maine | $51,186 | $24.61 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $50,186 | $24.13 |
| 25 | Alabama | $48,565 | $23.35 |
| 26 | New York | $49,698 | $23.89 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $51,184 | $24.61 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $48,214 | $23.18 |
| 29 | Utah | $47,898 | $23.03 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $45,497 | $21.87 |
| 31 | Texas | $47,073 | $22.63 |
| 32 | Delaware | $50,539 | $24.30 |
| 33 | Missouri | $49,217 | $23.66 |
| 34 | Montana | $45,752 | $22.00 |
| 35 | Virginia | $46,416 | $22.32 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $46,724 | $22.46 |
| 37 | Nevada | $46,855 | $22.53 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $47,067 | $22.63 |
| 39 | Kansas | $47,905 | $23.03 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $46,068 | $22.15 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $45,681 | $21.96 |
| 42 | Connecticut | $47,570 | $22.87 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $45,961 | $22.10 |
| 44 | Maryland | $43,870 | $21.09 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $38,097 | $18.32 |
| 46 | Georgia | $43,346 | $20.84 |
| 47 | Ohio | $42,081 | $20.23 |
| 48 | Arizona | $43,899 | $21.11 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $43,521 | $20.92 |
| 50 | Illinois | $41,461 | $19.93 |
| 51 | Idaho | $41,461 | $19.93 |
Highest paying cities for college instructors
The highest-paying cities for college instructors are Cupertino, CA, Eugene, OR, and Ann Arbor, MI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino, CA | $80,048 | $38.48 |
| 2 | Eugene, OR | $62,448 | $30.02 |
| 3 | Ann Arbor, MI | $58,112 | $27.94 |
| 4 | New Brunswick, NJ | $56,987 | $27.40 |
| 5 | Rocky Mount, NC | $54,479 | $26.19 |
| 6 | Fort Collins, CO | $53,871 | $25.90 |
| 7 | Sarasota, FL | $53,396 | $25.67 |
| 8 | Erie, PA | $51,478 | $24.75 |
| 9 | Utica, NY | $50,525 | $24.29 |
| 10 | Clarksville, TN | $48,536 | $23.33 |
| 11 | Hartford, CT | $48,161 | $23.15 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $47,250 | $22.72 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,218 | $22.70 |
| 14 | Sugar Land, TX | $46,777 | $22.49 |
| 15 | Monroe, LA | $46,478 | $22.35 |
| 16 | Bozeman, MT | $45,520 | $21.88 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $44,073 | $21.19 |
| 18 | Gainesville, GA | $43,605 | $20.96 |
| 19 | Athens, OH | $41,598 | $20.00 |
| 20 | Elgin, IL | $41,528 | $19.97 |
College instructor salary details
A college instructor's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $73,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a college instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $50,584 | $4,215 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying college instructor jobs
The highest paying types of college instructors are faculty, technical instructor, and medical instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty | $80,405 | $6,700 | $38.66 | 21,142 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| Instructor Of Spanish | $54,930 | $4,578 | $26.41 | 25,516 |
| Adult Education Instructor | $45,926 | $3,827 | $22.08 | 43,991 |
| Adjunct English Instructor | $55,901 | $4,658 | $26.88 | 38,052 |
| Adjunct Instructor | $52,030 | $4,336 | $25.01 | 40,633 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for college instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David McMahan Ph.D.
Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College
Top companies hiring college instructors now:
Which companies pay college instructors the most?
College instructor salaries at Marathon Oil and Ringling College of Art and Design are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average college instructor salary at companies like Columbia University in the City of New York and Nash Community College are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marathon Oil | $109,010 | $52.41 |
| 2 | Ringling College of Art and Design | $79,960 | $38.44 |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $69,899 | $33.61 |
| 4 | Nash Community College | $65,665 | $31.57 |
| 5 | Esf, Inc. | $61,676 | $29.65 |
| 6 | Rutgers University | $60,227 | $28.96 |
| 7 | COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND | $59,330 | $28.52 |
| 8 | Grantham University | $58,847 | $28.29 |
| 9 | San Diego College of Continuing Education | $55,914 | $26.88 |
| 10 | North Central Texas College | $52,210 | $25.10 |
| 11 | Mira Costa High | $51,796 | $24.90 |
| 12 | Carteret Schools | $51,155 | $24.59 |
| 13 | Lewis & Clark College | $51,130 | $24.58 |
| 14 | Columbia College | $51,094 | $24.56 |
| 15 | Austin Peay State University | $50,876 | $24.46 |
| 16 | Colorado Early Education Network | $50,695 | $24.37 |
| 17 | Unitek Learning | $50,695 | $24.37 |
| 18 | Louisiana Delta Community College | $49,044 | $23.58 |
| 19 | Elgin Community College | $48,626 | $23.38 |
| 20 | Guilford Technical Community College | $48,574 | $23.35 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
College instructor salary trends
The average college instructor salary has risen by $6,211 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average college instructor earned $44,373 annually, but today, they earn $50,584 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for college instructors over the last decade.
Compare college instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average college instructor salary over time
Compare college instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
College instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,600 | $24.32 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $49,700 | $23.88 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $48,300 | $23.23 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $46,900 | $22.56 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $46,100 | $22.15 | +2.3% |
Recently added college instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaplan | Hybrid-Mcat Prep Instructor-Queens College | New York, NY | 06/30/2025 | $83,480 |
| Kaplan | Mcat Prep Instructor-Kaplan International Seattle/Seattle Central College | Seattle, WA | 06/30/2025 | $73,045 |
| Northern Essex Community College | Non-Credit Instructors-Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill, MA | 06/28/2025 | $104,350 |
| San Mateo Community College District | Middle College High School Career Readiness Instructor (Pool) | San Bruno, CA | 06/28/2025 | $156,734 |
| Barnard College | Barnard Pre-College Instructor | New York, NY | 06/14/2025 | $82,320 |
| Los Angeles Community College District | Adjunct-Fy25 College Studies Instructor | Monterey Park, CA | 06/14/2025 | $42,408 |
| Bank Street College of Education | College Expo I Instructor | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $73,045 |
| Charles R. Drew University | Instructor Hourly-College Prep | Los Angeles, CA | 06/10/2025 | $52,175 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | College for Kids Instructor (Multiple Positions Available)-Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield, MA | 06/09/2025 | $93,915 |
| Mounds View Public Schools | ABE Teacher/Science-Adult Learning Ged/College Prep Instructor | Shoreview, MN | 06/05/2025 | $85,233 |
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