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Teaching artist salary
Average teaching artist salary
$66,565
Understanding the Teaching Artist Salary
A Teaching Artist integrates artistic practice with educational instruction, facilitating learning through creative expression. As of October 2025, the average salary for this profession is $66,565 per year or about $32 per hour. Salaries can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field of art.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, teaching artists often earn more due to higher living costs and greater demand for arts education. For example, the highest paying states typically offer salaries exceeding the national average, making it advantageous for teaching artists to consider relocating for better opportunities.
Career Opportunities
Teaching artists can find positions in public schools, private institutions, art organizations, and community centers. They can also pursue freelance opportunities or workshops, further diversifying their income streams. With the growing emphasis on arts in education, the demand for skilled teaching artists is on the rise, enabling professionals in this field to thrive.
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Where can a Teaching Artist earn more?
Teaching artist salary estimates from across the web
Average teaching artist salary by state
The highest-paying states for teaching artists are New York, California, and Alaska. The lowest average teaching artist salary states are Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for teaching artists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $84,819 | $40.78 |
| 2 | New York | $88,317 | $42.46 |
| 3 | California | $87,631 | $42.13 |
| 4 | Oregon | $82,005 | $39.43 |
| 5 | Washington | $76,379 | $36.72 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $80,357 | $38.63 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $84,307 | $40.53 |
| 8 | Michigan | $79,564 | $38.25 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $82,796 | $39.81 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $90,243 | $43.39 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $74,521 | $35.83 |
| 12 | Virginia | $72,699 | $34.95 |
| 13 | Maryland | $74,286 | $35.71 |
| 14 | Idaho | $69,978 | $33.64 |
| 15 | Ohio | $67,444 | $32.42 |
| 16 | Iowa | $64,715 | $31.11 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $62,968 | $30.27 |
| 18 | Alabama | $64,454 | $30.99 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $69,808 | $33.56 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $65,833 | $31.65 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $67,786 | $32.59 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| 23 | Illinois | $63,044 | $30.31 |
| 24 | Delaware | $68,714 | $33.04 |
| 25 | Utah | $61,919 | $29.77 |
| 26 | Indiana | $64,030 | $30.78 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $68,432 | $32.90 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $67,350 | $32.38 |
| 29 | Georgia | $63,101 | $30.34 |
| 30 | Arizona | $59,446 | $28.58 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $62,041 | $29.83 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $59,409 | $28.56 |
| 33 | Florida | $63,418 | $30.49 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $59,108 | $28.42 |
| 35 | Vermont | $59,662 | $28.68 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $61,004 | $29.33 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $60,306 | $28.99 |
| 38 | Texas | $53,564 | $25.75 |
| 39 | Missouri | $61,576 | $29.60 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $50,673 | $24.36 |
| 41 | Montana | $58,573 | $28.16 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $59,249 | $28.49 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $57,794 | $27.79 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $46,475 | $22.34 |
| 45 | Kansas | $50,050 | $24.06 |
| 46 | Colorado | $45,001 | $21.64 |
| 47 | Nevada | $50,859 | $24.45 |
| 48 | Maine | $54,833 | $26.36 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $50,493 | $24.28 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $50,980 | $24.51 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $43,645 | $20.98 |
Highest paying cities for teaching artists
The highest-paying cities for teaching artists are Santa Rosa, CA, New York, NY, and Newton, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $96,237 | $46.27 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $88,544 | $42.57 |
| 3 | Newton, MA | $84,248 | $40.50 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $82,935 | $39.87 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $82,217 | $39.53 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,634 | $38.77 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $69,450 | $33.39 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $68,460 | $32.91 |
| 9 | Des Moines, IA | $63,849 | $30.70 |
| 10 | Marietta, GA | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $63,391 | $30.48 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $62,974 | $30.28 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| 14 | Ardmore, OK | $49,775 | $23.93 |
Teaching artist salary details
A teaching artist's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $111,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a teaching artist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $111,000 | $9,250 | $53 |
| 75th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| Average | $66,565 | $5,547 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
Highest paying teaching artist jobs
The highest paying types of teaching artists are professor, visiting professor, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
| Music Internship | $64,045 | $5,337 | $30.79 | 49,414 |
| Music Instructor | $57,930 | $4,827 | $27.85 | 26,788 |
| Art Educator | $40,421 | $3,368 | $19.43 | 42,617 |
| Director Of Instruction | $72,536 | $6,045 | $34.87 | 4,904 |
| Art Coordinator | $50,508 | $4,209 | $24.28 | 18,099 |
Top companies hiring teaching artists now:
Which companies pay teaching artists the most?
Teaching artist salaries at The New York Pops and Baptist Health South Florida are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average teaching artist salary at companies like Lyric Opera of Chicago and Camino Nuevo Charter Academy are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The New York Pops | $91,222 | $43.86 |
| 2 | Baptist Health Home Care | $89,907 | $43.22 |
| 3 | Lyric Opera of Chicago | $86,562 | $41.62 |
| 4 | Camino Nuevo Charter Academy | $80,058 | $38.49 |
| 5 | Manhattan School of Music | $79,755 | $38.34 |
| 6 | Los Angeles County Museum of Art | $72,719 | $34.96 |
| 7 | Newton Montessori School | $71,391 | $34.32 |
| 8 | The Joffrey Ballet | $70,161 | $33.73 |
| 9 | BRIDGES Charter School | $69,965 | $33.64 |
| 10 | LA Promise Fund | $67,823 | $32.61 |
| 11 | Berklee College of Music | $64,654 | $31.08 |
| 12 | New City Kids | $64,188 | $30.86 |
| 13 | ACES | $64,141 | $30.84 |
| 14 | SFJAZZ | $63,804 | $30.68 |
| 15 | Shift | $62,828 | $30.21 |
| 16 | Ravinia Festival | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| 17 | P.S. ARTS | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| 18 | Drake University | $57,812 | $27.79 |
| 19 | One River School | $56,819 | $27.32 |
| 20 | The People's Music School | $54,285 | $26.10 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Teaching artist salary trends
The average teaching artist salary has risen by $7,030 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average teaching artist earned $59,535 annually, but today, they earn $66,565 a year. That works out to a 2% change in pay for teaching artists over the last decade.
Compare teaching artist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average teaching artist salary over time
Compare teaching artist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Teaching artist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,600 | $32.00 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | $66,400 | $31.93 | -0.6% |
| 2023 | $66,800 | $32.13 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $63,900 | $30.74 | -2.6% |
| 2021 | $65,600 | $31.52 | +4.8% |
Recently added teaching artist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YMCA of Greater Brandywine | Music Teaching Artist for Theater Season | Berwyn, PA | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| One River School of Art and Design | Teaching Artist-Assistant Director of Art Center | Port Jefferson Station, NY | 06/27/2025 | $50,000 |
| Job Path | Teaching Artist | York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $56,558 |
| Hillerich Bradsby Co | Teaching Artist/Barnstormer | Louisville, KY | 06/20/2025 | $31,305 |
| Nj Performing Arts | Teaching Artist | Newark, NJ | 06/12/2025 | $104,350 |
| Kentucky Opera | Youth Programs Teaching Artist | Louisville, KY | 06/11/2025 | $31,305 |
| Wellan Montessori School | After School Teaching Artist-Piano | Newton, MA | 06/07/2025 | $146,090 |
| Learning Through An Expanded Arts Program | Teaching Artist: Drumline Instructor | New York, NY | 06/03/2025 | $83,480 |
| Nj Performing Arts | Teaching Artist | Newark, NJ | 05/26/2025 | $104,350 |
| Boys Club of Ny | Visual Arts Teaching Artist | New York, NY | 05/25/2025 | $62,610 |
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