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History instructor salary
Average history instructor salary
$54,541
Understanding History Instructor Salaries
The average salary for a history instructor stands at $54,541 per year, translating to approximately $26 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including geographic location, educational background, and years of experience. In states like California and New York, instructors often earn higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living.
Salary by Experience
Entry-level positions typically offer lower salaries, but as instructors gain experience and potentially pursue advanced degrees, their earning potential increases significantly. For instance, instructors with over ten years of experience can earn upwards of $70,000 annually, highlighting the value of experience in this profession.
Job Opportunities
Beyond traditional classroom roles, history instructors also find opportunities in online education platforms and community colleges, which may offer varied compensation packages. Exploring these avenues can lead to enhanced career growth and stability in the field.
By understanding these dynamics, you can make informed decisions regarding your career path as a history instructor.
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Where can a History Instructor earn more?
History instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average history instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for history instructors are California, New Jersey, and Utah. The lowest average history instructor salary states are New Mexico, Louisiana, and Michigan.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for history instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $73,332 | $35.26 |
| 2 | California | $73,409 | $35.29 |
| 3 | Utah | $69,214 | $33.28 |
| 4 | Nevada | $61,599 | $29.61 |
| 5 | Iowa | $64,151 | $30.84 |
| 6 | Vermont | $66,382 | $31.91 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $65,389 | $31.44 |
| 8 | Alaska | $61,222 | $29.43 |
| 9 | Delaware | $58,667 | $28.21 |
| 10 | New York | $62,244 | $29.93 |
| 11 | Kansas | $64,042 | $30.79 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $60,610 | $29.14 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $68,569 | $32.97 |
| 14 | Oregon | $55,798 | $26.83 |
| 15 | Texas | $55,302 | $26.59 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $59,841 | $28.77 |
| 17 | Colorado | $54,263 | $26.09 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $60,297 | $28.99 |
| 19 | Idaho | $56,314 | $27.07 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $50,747 | $24.40 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $52,620 | $25.30 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $49,801 | $23.94 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $64,574 | $31.05 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $53,104 | $25.53 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $55,897 | $26.87 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $49,022 | $23.57 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $52,383 | $25.18 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $53,446 | $25.70 |
| 29 | Maine | $53,214 | $25.58 |
| 30 | Arizona | $51,143 | $24.59 |
| 31 | Alabama | $51,089 | $24.56 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $49,517 | $23.81 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $49,535 | $23.81 |
| 34 | Montana | $48,290 | $23.22 |
| 35 | Washington | $53,827 | $25.88 |
| 36 | Ohio | $49,274 | $23.69 |
| 37 | Maryland | $50,325 | $24.19 |
| 38 | Missouri | $52,280 | $25.13 |
| 39 | Virginia | $49,277 | $23.69 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $47,676 | $22.92 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $46,847 | $22.52 |
| 42 | Florida | $47,062 | $22.63 |
| 43 | Michigan | $45,062 | $21.66 |
| 44 | Georgia | $44,158 | $21.23 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $46,660 | $22.43 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $46,237 | $22.23 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $45,741 | $21.99 |
| 48 | Illinois | $46,383 | $22.30 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $46,465 | $22.34 |
| 50 | Indiana | $42,688 | $20.52 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $42,978 | $20.66 |
Highest paying cities for history instructors
The highest-paying cities for history instructors are Oakland, CA, New Brunswick, NJ, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $76,551 | $36.80 |
| 2 | New Brunswick, NJ | $73,317 | $35.25 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $62,351 | $29.98 |
| 4 | Wellesley, MA | $60,315 | $29.00 |
| 5 | Gresham, OR | $55,594 | $26.73 |
| 6 | Fort Collins, CO | $54,284 | $26.10 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $54,202 | $26.06 |
| 8 | Cheyenne, WY | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| 9 | Clarksville, TN | $49,698 | $23.89 |
| 10 | Asheville, NC | $47,863 | $23.01 |
| 11 | Clovis, NM | $45,365 | $21.81 |
History instructor salary details
A history instructor's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $75,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a history instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $54,541 | $4,545 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
Highest paying history instructor jobs
The highest paying types of history instructors are history professor, american history professor, and adjunct history instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor Of Spanish | $54,930 | $4,578 | $26.41 | 25,516 |
| Adjunct English Instructor | $55,901 | $4,658 | $26.88 | 38,052 |
| Adult Education Instructor | $45,926 | $3,827 | $22.08 | 43,991 |
| Mathematics Instructor | $51,311 | $4,276 | $24.67 | 39,866 |
| ESL Instructor | $53,226 | $4,436 | $25.59 | 26,173 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for history instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Karla Huebner Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Wright State University
Top companies hiring history instructors now:
Which companies pay history instructors the most?
History instructor salaries at Wellesley College and Dowling College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average history instructor salary at companies like Oliver and University of Washington are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellesley College | $66,076 | $31.77 |
| 2 | Dowling College | $65,811 | $31.64 |
| 3 | Oliver | $61,866 | $29.74 |
| 4 | University of Washington | $61,657 | $29.64 |
| 5 | Rutgers University | $60,810 | $29.24 |
| 6 | Alfred University | $60,640 | $29.15 |
| 7 | Dickinson College | $59,569 | $28.64 |
| 8 | Missouri Military Academy | $59,331 | $28.52 |
| 9 | Union College | $58,574 | $28.16 |
| 10 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | $58,440 | $28.10 |
| 11 | Laramie County Community College | $58,042 | $27.90 |
| 12 | Lawrence Family Development Charter School | $56,210 | $27.02 |
| 13 | Jamestown Community College | $54,148 | $26.03 |
| 14 | Oakland University | $54,146 | $26.03 |
| 15 | University of Rochester | $53,589 | $25.76 |
| 16 | Proviso Township Schools | $53,465 | $25.70 |
| 17 | Austin Peay State University | $51,303 | $24.66 |
| 18 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $49,894 | $23.99 |
| 19 | Santa Rosa High School | $48,207 | $23.18 |
| 20 | Mt. Hood Community College | $46,593 | $22.40 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
History instructor salary trends
The average history instructor salary has risen by $7,824 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average history instructor earned $46,717 annually, but today, they earn $54,541 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for history instructors over the last decade.
Compare history instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average history instructor salary over time
Compare history instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
History instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $54,500 | $26.22 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | $53,300 | $25.64 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | $52,900 | $25.44 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $51,600 | $24.79 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $50,900 | $24.49 | +3.4% |
Recently added history instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nia Community Services Network | After-School History Instructor-PS 229 | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Chicago High School for The Arts | Musical Theatre History and Literature Instructor (Fall Semester Only) | Chicago, IL | 06/23/2025 | $93,915 |
| State of Virginia | Instructor In Modern Military History | Blacksburg, VA | 06/04/2025 | $50,000 |
| Kentucky Community and Technical College System | Instructor-History | Henderson, KY | 05/25/2025 | $41,000 |
| Kentucky Community and Technical Colleges | Instructor-History | Henderson, NV | 05/24/2025 | $41,000 |
| Mt. San Jacinto College | Temporary History Instructor | Temecula, CA | 05/21/2025 | $81,647 |
| Angelo State University | Instructor of History | San Angelo, TX | 05/14/2025 | $43,175 |
| Wilkes Community College | Instructor of History | Wilkesboro, NC | 05/08/2025 | $48,500 |
| Virginia Tech | Instructor In Modern Military History | Blacksburg, VA | 05/04/2025 | $50,000 |
| State of Virginia | Instructor In Modern Military History | Blacksburg, VA | 05/04/2025 | $50,000 |
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