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Physical sciences instructor salary
Average physical sciences instructor salary
$70,130
Understanding the Physical Sciences Instructor Salary
The average salary for a Physical Sciences Instructor in the United States is approximately $70,130 per year, or $34 per hour. However, this figure can vary significantly based on various factors such as geographical location and years of experience.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, salaries tend to be higher due to the cost of living and demand for qualified instructors. For instance, instructors in California can earn an average of $75,000 annually, while those in New York may earn around $73,000.
Job Opportunities
Physical Sciences Instructors find employment in various educational settings, including community colleges, universities, and private institutions. The demand for instructors is expected to grow, offering numerous job opportunities for aspiring educators. Understanding regional salary differences can help candidates negotiate better compensation and make informed career decisions.
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Where can a Physical Sciences Instructor earn more?
Average physical sciences instructor salary by state
The average physical sciences instructor salary in New York, California, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average physical sciences instructor salary states are Kansas, Arizona, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for physical sciences instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $90,756 | $43.63 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $90,696 | $43.60 |
| 3 | Vermont | $79,897 | $38.41 |
| 4 | Nevada | $78,410 | $37.70 |
| 5 | Delaware | $85,155 | $40.94 |
| 6 | New York | $93,545 | $44.97 |
| 7 | California | $92,509 | $44.48 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $87,495 | $42.06 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $69,323 | $33.33 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $71,584 | $34.42 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $75,498 | $36.30 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $79,521 | $38.23 |
| 13 | Florida | $76,043 | $36.56 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $66,022 | $31.74 |
| 15 | Maryland | $76,197 | $36.63 |
| 16 | Virginia | $71,727 | $34.48 |
| 17 | Illinois | $73,921 | $35.54 |
| 18 | Georgia | $66,098 | $31.78 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $67,126 | $32.27 |
| 21 | Texas | $69,082 | $33.21 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $80,113 | $38.52 |
| 23 | Ohio | $67,604 | $32.50 |
| 24 | Washington | $71,332 | $34.29 |
| 25 | Oregon | $66,501 | $31.97 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $61,799 | $29.71 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $56,236 | $27.04 |
| 28 | Alabama | $63,041 | $30.31 |
| 29 | Utah | $65,874 | $31.67 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $58,392 | $28.07 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $62,002 | $29.81 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $65,394 | $31.44 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $61,008 | $29.33 |
| 34 | Alaska | $55,820 | $26.84 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $53,396 | $25.67 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $60,676 | $29.17 |
| 37 | Michigan | $57,359 | $27.58 |
| 38 | Colorado | $56,117 | $26.98 |
| 39 | Maine | $55,739 | $26.80 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $56,488 | $27.16 |
| 41 | Iowa | $55,711 | $26.78 |
| 42 | Indiana | $58,566 | $28.16 |
| 43 | Missouri | $54,821 | $26.36 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $41,102 | $19.76 |
| 45 | Kansas | $52,109 | $25.05 |
| 46 | Montana | $42,065 | $20.22 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $55,912 | $26.88 |
| 48 | Arizona | $49,404 | $23.75 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $52,283 | $25.14 |
| 50 | Idaho | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $48,473 | $23.30 |
Highest paying cities for physical sciences instructors
The highest-paying cities for physical sciences instructors are San Francisco, CA, Stanford, CA, and Palo Alto, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $98,310 | $47.26 |
| 2 | Stanford, CA | $98,204 | $47.21 |
| 3 | Palo Alto, CA | $98,187 | $47.21 |
| 4 | Rodeo, CA | $98,111 | $47.17 |
| 5 | Merced, CA | $97,106 | $46.69 |
| 6 | Porterville, CA | $95,958 | $46.13 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $95,449 | $45.89 |
| 8 | Tehachapi, CA | $94,611 | $45.49 |
| 9 | Edwards Air Force Base, CA | $93,698 | $45.05 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $90,363 | $43.44 |
| 11 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $75,407 | $36.25 |
| 12 | Bristol, CT | $75,037 | $36.08 |
| 13 | Chaplin, CT | $74,511 | $35.82 |
| 14 | Salem, OR | $66,379 | $31.91 |
| 15 | Pendleton, SC | $64,512 | $31.02 |
| 16 | Natchez, MS | $60,943 | $29.30 |
| 17 | Gary, IN | $57,750 | $27.76 |
| 18 | Terre Haute, IN | $56,602 | $27.21 |
| 19 | Mena, AR | $49,687 | $23.89 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $49,635 | $23.86 |
Physical sciences instructor salary details
A physical sciences instructor's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $105,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a physical sciences instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $105,000 | $8,750 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| Average | $70,130 | $5,844 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
Highest paying physical sciences instructor jobs
The highest paying types of physical sciences instructors are health teacher, science teacher, and secondary teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary Teacher | $55,261 | $4,605 | $26.57 | 68,369 |
| Biology Teacher | $51,721 | $4,310 | $24.87 | 68,958 |
| History Teacher | $53,780 | $4,482 | $25.86 | 65,399 |
| Math Teacher | $51,088 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 59,347 |
| Peer Teacher | $49,811 | $4,151 | $23.95 | 54,705 |
| Technology Teacher | $48,545 | $4,045 | $23.34 | 107,079 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for physical sciences instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Karla Huebner Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Wright State University
Top companies hiring physical sciences instructors now:
Which companies pay physical sciences instructors the most?
Physical sciences instructor salaries at Kern Community College District and University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average physical sciences instructor salary at companies like Stanford University and UC Merced are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kern Community College District | $119,515 | $57.46 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College | $105,459 | $50.70 |
| 3 | Stanford University | $91,860 | $44.16 |
| 4 | UC Merced | $82,201 | $39.52 |
| 5 | Lake Ridge Academy | $69,733 | $33.53 |
| 6 | Bristol Public School District | $68,437 | $32.90 |
| 7 | Maher Terminals Inc | $65,904 | $31.68 |
| 8 | Broward County Public Schools | $62,168 | $29.89 |
| 9 | Grand Canyon University | $57,433 | $27.61 |
| 10 | Chemeketa Community College | $56,157 | $27.00 |
| 11 | Copiah-Lincoln Community College | $38,683 | $18.60 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Physical sciences instructor salary trends
The average physical sciences instructor salary has risen by $9,593 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average physical sciences instructor earned $60,537 annually, but today, they earn $70,130 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for physical sciences instructors over the last decade.
Compare physical sciences instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average physical sciences instructor salary over time
Compare physical sciences instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Physical sciences instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $70,100 | $33.72 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $68,800 | $33.07 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $67,300 | $32.35 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $66,000 | $31.73 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $64,700 | $31.12 | +1.4% |
Recently added physical sciences instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern New Mexico University, Roswell Campus | Physical Science Instructor | Portales, NM | 06/27/2025 | $50,000 |
| Kern Community College District | Physics/Physical Sciences Instructor, Tenure-Track | Porterville, CA | 04/02/2025 | $84,134 |
| Florida Virtual School and Flexpoint | Florida Virtual School Flex Physical Science Instructor Florida Certified | Noma, FL | 03/07/2025 | $57,000 |
| Kern Comunity College District | Physical Science Instructor, Adjunct Pool-East Kern | Tehachapi, CA | 03/07/2025 | $125,220 |
| College of Southern Nevada | Instructor, Land Surveying-Physical Sciences-Fall 2025 | Charleston, SC | 03/07/2025 | $58,046 |
| College of Southern Nevada | Instructor, Land Surveying-Physical Sciences-Fall 2025 | Las Vegas, NV | 03/07/2025 | $58,046 |
| Eauclairechamber | Physical Science Instructor | Eau Claire, WI | 02/18/2025 | $66,316 |
| ACCS | Instructor, Physics/Physical Science | Tuscaloosa, AL | 02/17/2025 | $46,590 |
| Alabama Community College System | Instructor, Physics/Physical Science | Tuscaloosa, AL | 02/12/2025 | $46,590 |
| College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Physics Instructor-College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Syracuse, NY | 12/10/2024 | $65,000 |
Physical sciences instructor salary FAQs
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