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Lecturer/instructor salary
Average lecturer/instructor salary
$59,105
Average Lecturer/Instructor Salary
The average salary for a lecturer or instructor in the United States is $59,105 per year, equating to approximately $28 per hour. This figure reflects a broad range of factors including the institution type, specific subject areas, and the instructor's educational background. For instance, lecturers in community colleges may earn less than those in prestigious universities.
Salary Variation by Experience
As experience increases, so does earning potential. Entry-level lecturers may start at lower salaries, while those with significant experience or advanced degrees can command higher pay. It’s essential to consider the specific field of instruction, as STEM-related disciplines often offer better compensation compared to humanities and arts.
Where Can You Earn More?
Geographic location significantly influences salary expectations. States such as California and New York frequently report higher average salaries for lecturers, reflecting the cost of living and demand for higher education professionals. Cities like San Francisco and New York City rank among the highest for lecturer compensation, making them attractive options for job seekers.
Exploring Opportunities
For those eager to explore teaching positions, Zippia provides a comprehensive job board showcasing various opportunities across the nation. Whether you're newly qualified or a seasoned educator, understanding salary dynamics can help you make informed career decisions.
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Where can a Lecturer/Instructor earn more?
Average lecturer/instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for lecturer/instructors are Nevada, Washington, and California. The lowest average lecturer/instructor salary states are South Dakota, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for lecturer/instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $90,557 | $43.54 |
| 2 | Nevada | $84,851 | $40.79 |
| 3 | Alaska | $72,105 | $34.67 |
| 4 | Washington | $83,765 | $40.27 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $73,795 | $35.48 |
| 6 | California | $81,196 | $39.04 |
| 7 | Delaware | $75,887 | $36.48 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $75,257 | $36.18 |
| 9 | Maryland | $74,187 | $35.67 |
| 10 | Utah | $75,910 | $36.50 |
| 11 | Illinois | $74,002 | $35.58 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $64,782 | $31.15 |
| 13 | New York | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| 14 | Oregon | $68,021 | $32.70 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $76,636 | $36.84 |
| 16 | Colorado | $66,265 | $31.86 |
| 17 | Kansas | $71,869 | $34.55 |
| 18 | Vermont | $69,088 | $33.22 |
| 19 | Ohio | $66,013 | $31.74 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $69,886 | $33.60 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $67,715 | $32.56 |
| 22 | Idaho | $70,460 | $33.88 |
| 23 | Indiana | $62,946 | $30.26 |
| 24 | Maine | $66,517 | $31.98 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $64,402 | $30.96 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $64,826 | $31.17 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $63,638 | $30.60 |
| 28 | Michigan | $61,207 | $29.43 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $65,431 | $31.46 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $62,031 | $29.82 |
| 31 | Arizona | $64,287 | $30.91 |
| 32 | Georgia | $59,745 | $28.72 |
| 33 | Texas | $61,129 | $29.39 |
| 34 | Iowa | $56,697 | $27.26 |
| 35 | Virginia | $51,820 | $24.91 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $48,483 | $23.31 |
| 37 | Alabama | $60,164 | $28.93 |
| 38 | Montana | $48,165 | $23.16 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $49,427 | $23.76 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $45,817 | $22.03 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $58,227 | $27.99 |
| 42 | Missouri | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $50,522 | $24.29 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $42,334 | $20.35 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $51,956 | $24.98 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $52,325 | $25.16 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $46,642 | $22.42 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $46,257 | $22.24 |
| 49 | Florida | $38,052 | $18.29 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $44,845 | $21.56 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $41,098 | $19.76 |
Highest paying cities for lecturer/instructors
The highest-paying cities for lecturer/instructors are Stockton, CA, Baltimore, MD, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $87,631 | $42.13 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $74,392 | $35.77 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $74,078 | $35.61 |
| 4 | Worcester, MA | $69,942 | $33.63 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $69,121 | $33.23 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,675 | $31.09 |
| 7 | New Brunswick, NJ | $63,662 | $30.61 |
| 8 | Huntsville, TX | $60,984 | $29.32 |
| 9 | Norfolk, VA | $51,879 | $24.94 |
| 10 | Columbia, SC | $45,957 | $22.09 |
| 11 | Norman, OK | $41,044 | $19.73 |
Lecturer/instructor salary details
A lecturer/instructor's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $86,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a lecturer/instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| Average | $59,105 | $4,925 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Highest paying lecturer/instructor jobs
The highest paying types of lecturer/instructors are professor, associate professor, and faculty member.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty | $80,405 | $6,700 | $38.66 | 21,142 |
| Faculty Member | $102,849 | $8,571 | $49.45 | 30,325 |
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $6,922 | $39.94 | 26,791 |
| Adjunct Faculty Member | $60,817 | $5,068 | $29.24 | 28,981 |
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
| Adjunct Professor | $98,821 | $8,235 | $47.51 | 22,488 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for lecturer/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 lecturer/instructors now:
Which companies pay lecturer/instructors the most?
Lecturer/instructor salaries at Stanford University and Harvard University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average lecturer/instructor salary at companies like Rutgers University and Baylor University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | $90,096 | $43.32 |
| 2 | Harvard University | $77,158 | $37.10 |
| 3 | Rutgers University | $67,166 | $32.29 |
| 4 | Baylor University | $65,469 | $31.48 |
| 5 | Chicago State University | $65,441 | $31.46 |
| 6 | Sam Houston State University | $64,592 | $31.05 |
| 7 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | $62,865 | $30.22 |
| 8 | University of Cincinnati | $60,044 | $28.87 |
| 9 | University of Oklahoma | $58,339 | $28.05 |
| 10 | Johns Hopkins University | $58,111 | $27.94 |
| 11 | The Culinary Institute of America | $57,452 | $27.62 |
| 12 | South Dakota Board Of Regents | $44,457 | $21.37 |
| 13 | University of South Carolina | $43,297 | $20.82 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Lecturer/instructor salary trends
The average lecturer/instructor salary has risen by $7,371 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average lecturer/instructor earned $51,734 annually, but today, they earn $59,105 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for lecturer/instructors over the last decade.
Compare lecturer/instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average lecturer/instructor salary over time
Compare lecturer/instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Lecturer/instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $59,100 | $28.42 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $57,600 | $27.71 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | $58,000 | $27.90 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $56,100 | $26.98 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $55,600 | $26.75 | +2.5% |
Recently added lecturer/instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Il | Instructor/Lecturer Actuarial Science and Risk Management | Urbana, IL | 06/26/2025 | $58,000 |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Instructor or Lecturer of Philosophy | Brookings, SD | 06/13/2025 | $60,000 |
| Wright State University | Instructor/Lecturer | Dayton, OH | 06/11/2025 | $50,000 |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Instructor or Lecturer | Rapid City, SD | 05/28/2025 | $78,000 |
| University of Arizona | Visiting Lecturer or Instructor In South Asian Religions, Religious Studies and Classics | Tucson, AZ | 05/21/2025 | $45,000 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Il | Instructor or Lecturer In Swahili-Department of Linguistics | Urbana, IL | 05/11/2025 | $58,000 |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Instructor or Lecturer | Rapid City, SD | 04/13/2025 | $78,000 |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Instructor or Lecturer | Rapid City, SD | 03/22/2025 | $78,000 |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Instructor or Lecturer In Physics | Brookings, SD | 02/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| Sdbor | Instructor or Lecturer In Physics | Brookings, SD | 02/17/2025 | $60,000 |
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