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The average salary for a Russian Language Instructor is approximately $64,990 per year, translating to about $31 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the type of institution. Instructors often find positions in public schools, private language academies, and universities, each offering different salary scales.
Geographical location plays a critical role in determining salary levels. States with higher demand for language education often have better compensation packages. For instance, instructors in California and New York typically earn more than those in less populated areas. Understanding the salary landscape can help prospective educators make informed career choices.
In addition to state variations, specific cities stand out for their competitive salaries for Russian Language Instructors. Cities like Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago frequently rank among the highest-paying locations. These urban centers not only offer higher salaries but also a vibrant cultural setting for language instruction, enhancing the learning experience for students.
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The average russian language instructor salary in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average russian language instructor salary states are Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $130,084 | $62.54 |
| 2 | Vermont | $119,355 | $57.38 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $126,833 | $60.98 |
| 4 | Michigan | $104,918 | $50.44 |
| 5 | New York | $115,523 | $55.54 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $109,072 | $52.44 |
| 7 | Washington | $108,350 | $52.09 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $105,012 | $50.49 |
| 9 | Montana | $92,313 | $44.38 |
| 10 | Alaska | $106,130 | $51.02 |
| 11 | Nevada | $88,932 | $42.76 |
| 12 | Delaware | $88,587 | $42.59 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $98,336 | $47.28 |
| 14 | Illinois | $95,864 | $46.09 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $102,220 | $49.14 |
| 16 | California | $91,476 | $43.98 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $96,484 | $46.39 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $93,667 | $45.03 |
| 19 | Maryland | $90,532 | $43.52 |
| 20 | Oregon | $84,474 | $40.61 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $79,866 | $38.40 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $94,822 | $45.59 |
| 23 | Iowa | $80,409 | $38.66 |
| 24 | Idaho | $86,270 | $41.48 |
| 25 | Maine | $90,704 | $43.61 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $98,730 | $47.47 |
| 27 | Virginia | $70,037 | $33.67 |
| 28 | Colorado | $66,867 | $32.15 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $78,161 | $37.58 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $76,975 | $37.01 |
| 31 | Indiana | $79,922 | $38.42 |
| 32 | Ohio | $76,084 | $36.58 |
| 33 | Kansas | $65,172 | $31.33 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $53,657 | $25.80 |
| 35 | Florida | $58,455 | $28.10 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $51,798 | $24.90 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $55,170 | $26.52 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $60,007 | $28.85 |
| 39 | Missouri | $69,066 | $33.20 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $46,897 | $22.55 |
| 41 | Utah | $69,015 | $33.18 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $57,668 | $27.73 |
| 43 | Arizona | $59,003 | $28.37 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $62,055 | $29.83 |
| 45 | Georgia | $51,507 | $24.76 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $41,987 | $20.19 |
| 47 | Texas | $47,549 | $22.86 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| 49 | Alabama | $49,045 | $23.58 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $49,161 | $23.64 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $42,570 | $20.47 |
The highest-paying cities for russian language instructors are Bakersfield, CA, Annapolis, MD, and Arlington, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | $93,113 | $44.77 |
| 2 | Annapolis, MD | $89,815 | $43.18 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $78,472 | $37.73 |
| 4 | Colorado Springs, CO | $65,114 | $31.30 |
| 5 | Fayetteville, NC | $54,116 | $26.02 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $47,232 | $22.71 |
A russian language instructor's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $113,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $113,000 | $9,417 | $54 |
| 75th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| Average | $64,990 | $5,416 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
The highest paying types of russian language instructors are german instructor, languages and literature instructor, and adjunct spanish instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Teacher | $52,445 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 54,666 |
| Instructor Of Spanish | $54,930 | $4,578 | $26.41 | 25,516 |
| World Language Teacher | $53,288 | $4,441 | $25.62 | 73,200 |
| Language Teacher | $51,413 | $4,284 | $24.72 | 74,479 |
| Foreign Language Teacher | $53,918 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 73,406 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for russian language instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Larry Herzberg Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Asian Languages, Director of Asian Studies, Calvin University
Top companies hiring russian language instructors now:
Russian language instructor salaries at Middlebury College and CACI International are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average russian language instructor salary at companies like ICA Language Services and University of Montana are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlebury College | $104,768 | $50.37 |
| 2 | CACI International | $69,235 | $33.29 |
| 3 | ICA Language Services | $63,086 | $30.33 |
| 4 | University of Montana | $47,387 | $22.78 |
| 5 | Concordia College | $33,991 | $16.34 |
The average russian language instructor salary has risen by $9,565 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average russian language instructor earned $55,425 annually, but today, they earn $64,990 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for russian language instructors over the last decade.
Compare russian language instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare russian language instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,000 | $31.24 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | $65,100 | $31.28 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $62,900 | $30.23 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $60,400 | $29.05 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $59,000 | $28.38 | +3.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICA Language Services | Russian Language Instructor-Grit Training, Dliflc Monterey, CA (July-September 2025) | Monterey, CA | 06/25/2025 | $62,610 |
| ICA Language Services | Russian Language Instructor-In-Person, -US Citizenship Required | Arlington, VA | 06/11/2025 | $58,436 |
| Caci International | Russian/Chechen Language Instructor | Annapolis, MD | 05/27/2025 | $71,500 |
| Caci International | Russian/Chechen Language Instructor | Annapolis, MD | 03/15/2025 | $71,500 |
| Caci International | Russian Language Instructor | Annapolis, MD | 02/28/2025 | $71,500 |
| Cherokee Group | Language Instructor-Russian | Maryland | 02/18/2025 | $107,000 |
| Concordia College | Instructor, Russian Immersion-Concordia Language Training Center | Moorhead, MN | 02/17/2025 | $78,263 |
| Cherokee Nation Businesses | Language Instructor-Russian | Fort Meade, MD | 02/16/2025 | $107,000 |
| Icalanguages | Russian Language Instructor-Post Dlpt Class | Ione, CA | 02/15/2025 | $62,610 |
| Caci | Russian Language Instructor | Maryland | 12/10/2024 | $71,500 |
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