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Physics teacher salary
Average physics teacher salary
$54,119
Average Physics Teacher Salary
The average salary for a physics teacher in the United States is approximately $54,119 per year, translating to about $26 per hour. This salary can differ significantly depending on factors like location, educational background, and years of experience.
Salary by State
States such as California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the higher cost of living and demand for qualified educators. For example, physics teachers in California can earn upwards of $70,000 annually, reflecting the state’s investment in education.
Career Advancement
As a physics teacher, opportunities for advancement include roles such as department head, curriculum developer, or educational consultant. These positions typically offer increased salaries and enhanced responsibilities, making them appealing for career growth.
Conclusion
Understanding these salary dynamics is crucial for aspiring physics teachers. By researching state-specific average salaries and considering career advancement pathways, educators can make informed decisions about their future.
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Where can a Physics Teacher earn more?
Physics teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average physics teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for physics teachers are Massachusetts, Maryland, and Rhode Island. The lowest average physics teacher salary states are Montana, Arizona, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for physics teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $78,280 | $37.63 |
| 2 | Vermont | $73,961 | $35.56 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $69,891 | $33.60 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $75,288 | $36.20 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $69,723 | $33.52 |
| 6 | Delaware | $68,153 | $32.77 |
| 7 | New York | $72,841 | $35.02 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $81,866 | $39.36 |
| 9 | Illinois | $64,401 | $30.96 |
| 10 | Michigan | $61,685 | $29.66 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $56,842 | $27.33 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $66,380 | $31.91 |
| 13 | Ohio | $70,229 | $33.76 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $57,514 | $27.65 |
| 15 | Maine | $59,366 | $28.54 |
| 16 | Alaska | $62,691 | $30.14 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $56,590 | $27.21 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $62,619 | $30.11 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $52,699 | $25.34 |
| 20 | Virginia | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $54,347 | $26.13 |
| 22 | Nevada | $49,719 | $23.90 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $55,517 | $26.69 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $51,766 | $24.89 |
| 25 | Florida | $52,570 | $25.27 |
| 26 | Georgia | $54,293 | $26.10 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $58,878 | $28.31 |
| 28 | Washington | $53,379 | $25.66 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $52,171 | $25.08 |
| 30 | Colorado | $45,987 | $22.11 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $52,014 | $25.01 |
| 32 | Iowa | $47,675 | $22.92 |
| 33 | Kansas | $46,023 | $22.13 |
| 34 | California | $53,592 | $25.77 |
| 35 | Alabama | $49,894 | $23.99 |
| 36 | Indiana | $43,429 | $20.88 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $41,296 | $19.85 |
| 38 | Oregon | $48,731 | $23.43 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $47,971 | $23.06 |
| 40 | Texas | $44,218 | $21.26 |
| 41 | Montana | $39,168 | $18.83 |
| 42 | Arizona | $37,167 | $17.87 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $44,332 | $21.31 |
| 44 | Utah | $45,068 | $21.67 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $40,709 | $19.57 |
| 46 | Idaho | $36,365 | $17.48 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $40,073 | $19.27 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $34,317 | $16.50 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $39,651 | $19.06 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $36,641 | $17.62 |
| 51 | Missouri | $34,545 | $16.61 |
Highest paying cities for physics teachers
The highest-paying cities for physics teachers are Amherst, MA, Baltimore, MD, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amherst, MA | $81,839 | $39.35 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $78,366 | $37.68 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $73,128 | $35.16 |
| 4 | Camden, NJ | $70,026 | $33.67 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $67,265 | $32.34 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,785 | $32.11 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $64,833 | $31.17 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $62,606 | $30.10 |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $56,098 | $26.97 |
| 10 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $54,157 | $26.04 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $53,899 | $25.91 |
| 12 | Brownsville, TX | $46,666 | $22.44 |
| 13 | Boulder, CO | $46,105 | $22.17 |
| 14 | Franklin, TN | $44,448 | $21.37 |
| 15 | New Orleans, LA | $40,414 | $19.43 |
| 16 | Little Rock, AR | $39,737 | $19.10 |
| 17 | Tulsa, OK | $34,252 | $16.47 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $33,917 | $16.31 |
Physics teacher salary details
A physics teacher's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a physics teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $54,119 | $4,510 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying physics teacher jobs
The highest paying types of physics teachers are health teacher, science teacher, and student teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science Instructor | $48,925 | $4,077 | $23.52 | 40,936 |
| High School English Teacher | $50,369 | $4,197 | $24.22 | 71,673 |
| Language Teacher | $51,413 | $4,284 | $24.72 | 74,479 |
| High School Science Teacher | $53,404 | $4,450 | $25.68 | 84,939 |
| Student Teacher | $59,035 | $4,920 | $28.38 | 79,071 |
| Social Studies Teacher | $49,725 | $4,144 | $23.91 | 94,087 |
Which companies pay physics teachers the most?
Physics teacher salaries at Varian Medical Systems and California Institute of Technology are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average physics teacher salary at companies like University of California, Berkeley and University of California are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varian Medical Systems | $107,431 | $51.65 |
| 2 | California Institute of Technology | $96,827 | $46.55 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley | $96,162 | $46.23 |
| 4 | University of California | $95,721 | $46.02 |
| 5 | Nova Southeastern University | $95,602 | $45.96 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $94,537 | $45.45 |
| 7 | Boston Public Schools | $93,627 | $45.01 |
| 8 | Yale University | $93,107 | $44.76 |
| 9 | Lawrence Woodmere Academy | $88,606 | $42.60 |
| 10 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $88,183 | $42.40 |
| 11 | The University of Chicago | $87,158 | $41.90 |
| 12 | University of Pittsburgh | $85,872 | $41.28 |
| 13 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $84,274 | $40.52 |
| 14 | Northwestern University | $83,872 | $40.32 |
| 15 | California Polytechnic State University | $83,782 | $40.28 |
| 16 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | $82,970 | $39.89 |
| 17 | Baltimore City Public Schools | $82,466 | $39.65 |
| 18 | Princeton Public Schools | $80,188 | $38.55 |
| 19 | cambridge elementary school | $78,726 | $37.85 |
| 20 | Case Western Reserve University | $77,540 | $37.28 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Physics teacher salary trends
The average physics teacher salary has risen by $7,403 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average physics teacher earned $46,716 annually, but today, they earn $54,119 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for physics teachers over the last decade.
Compare physics teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average physics teacher salary over time
Compare physics teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Physics teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,100 | $26.02 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $53,100 | $25.52 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $51,900 | $24.96 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $50,900 | $24.49 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $50,000 | $24.02 | +1.4% |
Recently added physics teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Tech High | 9Th Grade Physics Teacher | Ione, CA | 06/29/2025 | $63,280 |
| Idea Public Schools | 11Th Grade Physics Teacher-Idea Hardy College Prep) | Houston, TX | 06/29/2025 | $62,500 |
| San Juan Unified | Physics Teacher [FTE ] at Mira Loma High School (PC #: 29989/Job ID # 5787) | Carmichael, CA | 06/20/2025 | $48,327 |
| The Harker School | Physics Teacher, Middle School (Temporary) | San Jose, CA | 06/20/2025 | $75,000 |
| Northern Valley Regional High School District | Physics Teacher | Demarest, NJ | 06/18/2025 | $64,526 |
| Fairmont Schools | Physics Teacher | Anaheim, CA | 06/16/2025 | $50,000 |
| Grace Church School | Interim HS Physics Teacher | New York, NY | 06/14/2025 | $68,000 |
| Triumph Inc. | Physical and Outdoor Teacher | Taunton, MA | 06/10/2025 | $50,547 |
| Cristo Rey Jesuit High School | Physics Teacher | Minneapolis, MN | 06/06/2025 | $49,000 |
| Berkeley Unified School District | Physics Teacher FTE-Berkeley High School SY | Berkeley, CA | 06/05/2025 | $56,369 |
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