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Physics instructor salary
Average physics instructor salary
$59,031
Average Physics Instructor Salary
The average salary for a Physics Instructor in the United States is approximately $59,031 per year. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and education level. For instance, states with a higher cost of living, such as California and New York, typically offer higher salaries. Additionally, instructors with advanced degrees or extensive experience may command salaries exceeding the average.
Where Can You Earn More?
Physics Instructors can find better-paying opportunities in various educational institutions, including colleges and universities. Positions in research-intensive universities or specialized programs often come with increased compensation. By exploring these options, educators can maximize their salary potential.
Salary Estimates by State
- California: $70,000
- New York: $68,000
- Texas: $55,000
- Florida: $53,000
Understanding the salary trends for Physics Instructors is essential for making informed career decisions. Staying updated on the evolving landscape can help educators position themselves strategically in the job market.
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Where can a Physics Instructor earn more?
Physics instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average physics instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for physics instructors are New York, Vermont, and California. The lowest average physics instructor salary states are Hawaii, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for physics instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $88,334 | $42.47 |
| 2 | Nevada | $72,431 | $34.82 |
| 3 | Vermont | $76,115 | $36.59 |
| 4 | California | $76,043 | $36.56 |
| 5 | Delaware | $71,243 | $34.25 |
| 6 | Maryland | $74,384 | $35.76 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $74,116 | $35.63 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $71,410 | $34.33 |
| 9 | Kansas | $72,456 | $34.83 |
| 10 | Illinois | $69,818 | $33.57 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $64,584 | $31.05 |
| 12 | Virginia | $66,365 | $31.91 |
| 13 | Maine | $66,243 | $31.85 |
| 14 | Iowa | $60,942 | $29.30 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $62,131 | $29.87 |
| 16 | Idaho | $65,048 | $31.27 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $56,845 | $27.33 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $70,456 | $33.87 |
| 19 | Oregon | $61,595 | $29.61 |
| 20 | Indiana | $63,247 | $30.41 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $57,988 | $27.88 |
| 22 | Washington | $65,364 | $31.43 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $61,628 | $29.63 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $58,702 | $28.22 |
| 25 | Ohio | $57,438 | $27.61 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $69,502 | $33.41 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $54,985 | $26.44 |
| 28 | Alabama | $56,906 | $27.36 |
| 29 | Michigan | $54,244 | $26.08 |
| 30 | Alaska | $53,295 | $25.62 |
| 31 | Colorado | $53,160 | $25.56 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $54,054 | $25.99 |
| 33 | Georgia | $52,555 | $25.27 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $56,865 | $27.34 |
| 35 | Arizona | $54,426 | $26.17 |
| 36 | Utah | $54,169 | $26.04 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $55,770 | $26.81 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $52,525 | $25.25 |
| 39 | Florida | $52,610 | $25.29 |
| 40 | Texas | $53,499 | $25.72 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $48,433 | $23.29 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $47,982 | $23.07 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $54,811 | $26.35 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $45,976 | $22.10 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $54,221 | $26.07 |
| 46 | Missouri | $54,754 | $26.32 |
| 47 | Montana | $44,482 | $21.39 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $52,706 | $25.34 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $40,639 | $19.54 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $44,183 | $21.24 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $44,513 | $21.40 |
Highest paying cities for physics instructors
The highest-paying cities for physics instructors are New York, NY, Cupertino, CA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $88,525 | $42.56 |
| 2 | Cupertino, CA | $79,138 | $38.05 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $74,126 | $35.64 |
| 4 | Wichita, KS | $72,549 | $34.88 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $72,317 | $34.77 |
| 6 | Manchester, CT | $70,350 | $33.82 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $69,998 | $33.65 |
| 8 | Springfield, VA | $66,731 | $32.08 |
| 9 | Auburn, WA | $65,717 | $31.59 |
| 10 | Bend, OR | $61,689 | $29.66 |
| 11 | Ankeny, IA | $60,905 | $29.28 |
| 12 | Montgomery, AL | $56,918 | $27.36 |
| 13 | Omaha, NE | $54,811 | $26.35 |
| 14 | Beaumont, TX | $53,614 | $25.78 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $53,112 | $25.53 |
| 16 | Fort Myers, FL | $52,927 | $25.45 |
| 17 | Statesboro, GA | $52,783 | $25.38 |
| 18 | Newark, NJ | $52,548 | $25.26 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, NC | $49,120 | $23.62 |
Physics instructor salary details
A physics instructor's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $85,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a physics instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| Average | $59,031 | $4,919 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Highest paying physics instructor jobs
The highest paying types of physics instructors are astronomy professor, medical physics professor, and physics professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Education Teacher | $49,652 | $4,138 | $23.87 | 109,956 |
| Student Instructor | $49,436 | $4,120 | $23.77 | 39,719 |
| Physics Professor | $69,894 | $5,825 | $33.60 | 12,289 |
| Mathematics Instructor | $51,311 | $4,276 | $24.67 | 39,866 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for physics instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Karina Skvirsky
Associate Professor, Lafayette College
Top companies hiring physics instructors now:
Which companies pay physics instructors the most?
Physics instructor salaries at Kern Community College District and Varian Medical Systems are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average physics instructor salary at companies like Brookhaven National Laboratory and Harvard University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kern Community College District | $113,996 | $54.81 |
| 2 | Varian Medical Systems | $96,229 | $46.26 |
| 3 | Brookhaven National Laboratory | $81,168 | $39.02 |
| 4 | Harvard University | $76,103 | $36.59 |
| 5 | Northeast Iowa Community College | $65,158 | $31.33 |
| 6 | Rowan University | $64,563 | $31.04 |
| 7 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $64,418 | $30.97 |
| 8 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $63,705 | $30.63 |
| 9 | Otero College | $63,226 | $30.40 |
| 10 | Dillard University | $63,079 | $30.33 |
| 11 | Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts | $61,379 | $29.51 |
| 12 | PSEA | $61,239 | $29.44 |
| 13 | Faulkner University | $60,887 | $29.27 |
| 14 | Art of Problem Solving | $60,861 | $29.26 |
| 15 | OBXtek | $60,853 | $29.26 |
| 16 | Partners Healthcare Solutions Inc | $60,753 | $29.21 |
| 17 | University of Virginia | $58,912 | $28.32 |
| 18 | Walla Walla Community College | $58,576 | $28.16 |
| 19 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $58,331 | $28.04 |
| 20 | Department of Public Social Services | $58,173 | $27.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Physics instructor salary trends
The average physics instructor salary has risen by $8,398 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average physics instructor earned $50,633 annually, but today, they earn $59,031 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for physics instructors over the last decade.
Compare physics instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average physics instructor salary over time
Compare physics instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Physics instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $59,000 | $28.38 | +0.9% |
| 2025 | $58,500 | $28.13 | -1.4% |
| 2024 | $59,300 | $28.51 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $57,000 | $27.42 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $55,200 | $26.55 | +2.0% |
Recently added physics instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passaic County Technical Institute | Physics Instructor | Wayne, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $70,530 |
| Passaic County Technical-Vocational Schools | Physics Instructor | Wayne, NJ | 06/26/2025 | $70,530 |
| American Straight A Academy | Physics Instructor | Irvine, CA | 06/26/2025 | $73,045 |
| Chicago Park District | Physical Instructor | Chicago, IL | 06/25/2025 | $66,316 |
| Vocational Schools | Physics Instructor | Downe, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $70,530 |
| Sinclair Community College | Instructor-Physical Activities Center | Dayton, OH | 06/05/2025 | $60,001 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Foundation, Inc. | Instructor, Physics | Asheville, NC | 05/28/2025 | $48,636 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Physics Instructor-Remote | WFH | Irvine, CA | 05/26/2025 | $73,045 |
| American Straight A Academy | Physics Instructor | Irvine, CA | 05/24/2025 | $73,045 |
| Shawsheen Valley Technical High School | Physics Instructor | Billerica, MA | 05/13/2025 | $66,463 |
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