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Psychology instructor salary
Average psychology instructor salary
$58,760
Average Psychology Instructor Salary
The average salary for a psychology instructor in the United States is approximately $58,760 per year, equating to about $28 per hour. Salaries in this profession can vary significantly based on factors such as geographical location, level of education, and years of experience.
Where Can a Psychology Instructor Earn More?
In states like California, New York, and Illinois, psychology instructors tend to earn higher salaries due to a combination of cost of living and demand for qualified educators. For instance, a psychology instructor in California may earn upwards of $70,000, reflecting the state's competitive educational landscape.
Job Opportunities
Psychology instructors can find employment in various educational settings, including:
- Community Colleges
- Universities
- Online Educational Platforms
- Adult Education Programs
With a growing emphasis on mental health, the demand for qualified psychology instructors is expected to rise, creating numerous opportunities for new educators entering the field.
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Where can a Psychology Instructor earn more?
Psychology instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average psychology instructor salary by state
The average psychology instructor salary in California, Nevada, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average psychology instructor salary states are Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for psychology instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $72,756 | $34.98 |
| 2 | California | $76,718 | $36.88 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $62,166 | $29.89 |
| 4 | Delaware | $66,694 | $32.06 |
| 5 | New York | $65,962 | $31.71 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $65,744 | $31.61 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $67,953 | $32.67 |
| 8 | Alaska | $63,995 | $30.77 |
| 9 | Texas | $63,362 | $30.46 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $66,653 | $32.04 |
| 11 | Oregon | $57,832 | $27.80 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $66,839 | $32.13 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $60,607 | $29.14 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $54,254 | $26.08 |
| 15 | Utah | $56,487 | $27.16 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $59,357 | $28.54 |
| 17 | Kansas | $59,345 | $28.53 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $58,057 | $27.91 |
| 19 | Virginia | $54,613 | $26.26 |
| 20 | Montana | $51,871 | $24.94 |
| 21 | Colorado | $53,571 | $25.76 |
| 22 | Arizona | $54,506 | $26.20 |
| 23 | Maryland | $56,108 | $26.98 |
| 24 | Vermont | $55,034 | $26.46 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $65,227 | $31.36 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $53,454 | $25.70 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $50,281 | $24.17 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $51,470 | $24.75 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $57,094 | $27.45 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $51,172 | $24.60 |
| 31 | Washington | $55,831 | $26.84 |
| 32 | Idaho | $53,542 | $25.74 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $55,662 | $26.76 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $51,524 | $24.77 |
| 36 | Georgia | $48,346 | $23.24 |
| 37 | Maine | $52,216 | $25.10 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $49,687 | $23.89 |
| 39 | Florida | $49,419 | $23.76 |
| 40 | Illinois | $51,660 | $24.84 |
| 41 | Alabama | $49,172 | $23.64 |
| 42 | Missouri | $51,366 | $24.70 |
| 43 | Iowa | $44,023 | $21.16 |
| 44 | Michigan | $42,680 | $20.52 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $45,711 | $21.98 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $48,350 | $23.25 |
| 47 | Indiana | $47,869 | $23.01 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $42,645 | $20.50 |
| 49 | Ohio | $43,283 | $20.81 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $42,133 | $20.26 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $42,009 | $20.20 |
Highest paying cities for psychology instructors
The highest-paying cities for psychology instructors are Santa Rosa, CA, New York, NY, and Austin, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $82,354 | $39.59 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $66,124 | $31.79 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $63,841 | $30.69 |
| 4 | Coon Rapids, MN | $59,311 | $28.51 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $57,933 | $27.85 |
| 6 | Bellevue, WA | $56,190 | $27.01 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $55,699 | $26.78 |
| 8 | Durham, NC | $54,824 | $26.36 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $53,554 | $25.75 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $51,716 | $24.86 |
| 11 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $50,219 | $24.14 |
| 12 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $49,045 | $23.58 |
| 13 | Muncie, IN | $47,964 | $23.06 |
| 14 | Clovis, NM | $44,853 | $21.56 |
| 15 | Ottumwa, IA | $44,072 | $21.19 |
| 16 | Athens, OH | $43,385 | $20.86 |
Psychology instructor salary details
A psychology instructor's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $81,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a psychology instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $58,760 | $4,897 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
Highest paying psychology instructor jobs
The highest paying types of psychology instructors are professor of psychology, adjunct psychology professor, and school psychology professor.
| 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 |
| Mathematics Instructor | $51,311 | $4,276 | $24.67 | 39,866 |
| Student Instructor | $49,436 | $4,120 | $23.77 | 39,719 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
| English Instructor | $53,915 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 27,111 |
Top companies hiring psychology instructors now:
Which companies pay psychology instructors the most?
Psychology instructor salaries at Kern Community College District and Anoka-Ramsey Community College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average psychology instructor salary at companies like Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Massachusetts General Hospital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kern Community College District | $114,136 | $54.87 |
| 2 | Anoka-Ramsey Community College | $70,509 | $33.90 |
| 3 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | $65,326 | $31.41 |
| 4 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $63,968 | $30.75 |
| 5 | Florida Technical College | $62,065 | $29.84 |
| 6 | Union College | $61,985 | $29.80 |
| 7 | The University of Alabama | $61,266 | $29.45 |
| 8 | Bellevue College | $60,668 | $29.17 |
| 9 | American Psychological Association | $60,595 | $29.13 |
| 10 | Daymar College | $59,748 | $28.73 |
| 11 | Minnesota State Colleges and Universities | $59,637 | $28.67 |
| 12 | South Dakota State University | $59,129 | $28.43 |
| 13 | Ball State University | $58,921 | $28.33 |
| 14 | VVC Rams Bookstore | $58,248 | $28.00 |
| 15 | University of Virginia | $54,976 | $26.43 |
| 16 | Nashville State Community College | $54,780 | $26.34 |
| 17 | University of Southern Indiana | $54,444 | $26.18 |
| 18 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $54,352 | $26.13 |
| 19 | Niagara County Community College | $52,913 | $25.44 |
| 20 | Elon University | $52,790 | $25.38 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Psychology instructor salary trends
The average psychology instructor salary has risen by $7,539 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average psychology instructor earned $51,221 annually, but today, they earn $58,760 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for psychology instructors over the last decade.
Compare psychology instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average psychology instructor salary over time
Compare psychology instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Psychology instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $58,800 | $28.25 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $57,600 | $27.69 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | $57,700 | $27.72 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $55,400 | $26.66 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $55,000 | $26.43 | +3.9% |
Recently added psychology instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola University of Chicago Inc. | Psychology, Instructor (One-Year, Temporary), Non-Tenure Track | Chicago, IL | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| United Tribes Technical College | Psychology Instructor | Bismarck, ND | 06/27/2025 | $47,500 |
| Ridgewater College | Psychology Instructor-Community College Faculty | Hutchinson, KS | 06/20/2025 | $51,303 |
| Ridgewater College | Psychology Instructor | Hutchinson, MN | 06/18/2025 | $43,912 |
| Minnesota State | Psychology Instructor-Community College Faculty | Hutchinson, KS | 06/16/2025 | $51,303 |
| Clinical | Psychology Position, Rancho Cordova | Rancho Cordova, CA | 06/15/2025 | $41,740 |
| Education Unlimited | High School Psychology Instructor Summer Camp 2025 | Los Angeles, CA | 06/09/2025 | $46,958 |
| Tennessee Board of Regents | Psychology Instructor | Tullahoma, TN | 06/03/2025 | $43,774 |
| American Straight A Academy | Psychology Instructor | Irvine, CA | 05/27/2025 | $73,045 |
| Schenectady County Community | Psychology Instructor-Suny Schenectady County Community College | Schenectady, NY | 05/24/2025 | $49,978 |
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