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The average salary for a teaching instructor in the United States stands at $61,323 per year. This figure reflects various factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific educational field. Typically, instructors with advanced degrees or those in specialized subjects may earn higher salaries.
Salary distribution varies significantly across states. For instance, teaching instructors in California and New York often report higher earnings due to the cost of living and demand for qualified educators. Understanding these regional differences can be pivotal for job seekers aiming to maximize their earnings.
In addition to traditional teaching roles, opportunities also exist in online education and tutoring, which have become increasingly popular. As educational needs evolve, so do the roles available for instructors, providing a diverse range of career pathways.
For those considering a career as a teaching instructor, researching salary trends and job openings in specific areas is essential. This knowledge equips individuals with the insights needed to make informed decisions about their career path.
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The highest-paying states for teaching instructors are Washington, Oregon, and Wyoming. The lowest average teaching instructor salary states are Kentucky, Georgia, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $71,472 | $34.36 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $63,798 | $30.67 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $63,283 | $30.42 |
| 4 | Washington | $72,976 | $35.08 |
| 5 | Alaska | $63,380 | $30.47 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $59,810 | $28.75 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $58,237 | $28.00 |
| 8 | Maine | $63,141 | $30.36 |
| 9 | Montana | $54,804 | $26.35 |
| 10 | Illinois | $60,543 | $29.11 |
| 11 | California | $59,086 | $28.41 |
| 12 | Maryland | $59,845 | $28.77 |
| 13 | Nevada | $53,528 | $25.73 |
| 14 | Arizona | $56,673 | $27.25 |
| 15 | Indiana | $60,263 | $28.97 |
| 16 | Utah | $55,419 | $26.64 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $51,173 | $24.60 |
| 18 | New York | $53,016 | $25.49 |
| 19 | Michigan | $50,552 | $24.30 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $60,885 | $29.27 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $50,155 | $24.11 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $52,115 | $25.06 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $52,437 | $25.21 |
| 24 | Texas | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| 25 | Ohio | $49,999 | $24.04 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $51,856 | $24.93 |
| 27 | Idaho | $52,799 | $25.38 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $53,583 | $25.76 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $57,326 | $27.56 |
| 30 | Vermont | $48,804 | $23.46 |
| 31 | Alabama | $49,391 | $23.75 |
| 32 | Colorado | $46,602 | $22.40 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $44,371 | $21.33 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $43,387 | $20.86 |
| 35 | Delaware | $47,691 | $22.93 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $46,855 | $22.53 |
| 37 | Virginia | $43,713 | $21.02 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $44,964 | $21.62 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $42,228 | $20.30 |
| 40 | Iowa | $44,144 | $21.22 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $47,774 | $22.97 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $46,419 | $22.32 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $44,109 | $21.21 |
| 44 | Georgia | $42,702 | $20.53 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $40,957 | $19.69 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $44,291 | $21.29 |
| 47 | Florida | $41,275 | $19.84 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $44,499 | $21.39 |
| 49 | Kansas | $43,838 | $21.08 |
| 50 | Missouri | $43,436 | $20.88 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $42,148 | $20.26 |
The highest-paying cities for teaching instructors are New Brunswick, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Brunswick, NJ | $59,590 | $28.65 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,683 | $28.21 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $57,329 | $27.56 |
| 4 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $49,665 | $23.88 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $46,573 | $22.39 |
| 6 | Morgantown, WV | $45,102 | $21.68 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $44,873 | $21.57 |
| 8 | Richmond, VA | $43,573 | $20.95 |
| 9 | Roswell, GA | $43,306 | $20.82 |
| 10 | Orlando, FL | $41,154 | $19.79 |
| 11 | Asheville, NC | $41,081 | $19.75 |
A teaching instructor's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $96,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| Average | $61,323 | $5,110 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
The highest paying types of teaching instructors are adjunct lecturer, language instructor, and adjunct english instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Lecturer | $79,657 | $6,638 | $38.30 | 26,546 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| Instructor Of Spanish | $54,930 | $4,578 | $26.41 | 25,516 |
| Teaching Fellow | $44,040 | $3,670 | $21.17 | 40,551 |
| Laboratory Instructor | $49,931 | $4,161 | $24.01 | 63,100 |
| Adjunct English Instructor | $55,901 | $4,658 | $26.88 | 38,052 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for teaching instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David McMahan Ph.D.
Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College
Top companies hiring teaching instructors now:
Teaching instructor salaries at The George Washington University and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average teaching instructor salary at companies like Carnegie Mellon University and Temple University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The George Washington University | $66,670 | $32.05 |
| 2 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | $62,797 | $30.19 |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University | $60,975 | $29.31 |
| 4 | Temple University | $58,985 | $28.36 |
| 5 | Rutgers University | $56,615 | $27.22 |
| 6 | Marquette University | $56,418 | $27.12 |
| 7 | Stillman College | $54,630 | $26.26 |
| 8 | Montgomery County Public Schools | $52,573 | $25.28 |
| 9 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $51,879 | $24.94 |
| 10 | Florida Institute of Technology | $49,154 | $23.63 |
| 11 | University of Colorado | $40,138 | $19.30 |
| 12 | Kids 'R' Kids | $36,425 | $17.51 |
| 13 | West Virginia University | $30,826 | $14.82 |
The average teaching instructor salary has risen by $10,001 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average teaching instructor earned $51,322 annually, but today, they earn $61,323 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for teaching instructors over the last decade.
Compare teaching instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare teaching instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,300 | $29.48 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $60,100 | $28.89 | +7.8% |
| 2023 | $55,400 | $26.63 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $53,300 | $25.65 | -5.5% |
| 2021 | $56,300 | $27.05 | +10.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University | Non-Tenure Track Teaching Instructor | Newark, NJ | 06/06/2025 | $75,152 |
| Illinois Association of School | Foundations of Teaching Instructor 5 Days/Week) | Bloomington, IL | 05/24/2025 | $43,066 |
| Bloomington Il School District 87 | Foundations of Teaching Instructor | Bloomington, IL | 05/23/2025 | $43,066 |
| Field Museum | Field Explorers Camp Teaching Instructor | Chicago, IL | 05/17/2025 | $45,914 |
| Perry Local Schools | Perry High School 21St. Cclc Licensed Teaching Instructor | Enon, OH | 05/10/2025 | $68,871 |
| Perry Local Schools | Perry High School 21St. Cclc Licensed Teaching Instructor Summer 2025 | Perry, OH | 04/26/2025 | $83,480 |
| Successacademies | Queens Borough To Experienced Teaching | Day, NY | 03/28/2025 | $65,000 |
| Field Museum | Field Explorers Camp Teaching Instructor | Chicago, IL | 03/15/2025 | $45,914 |
| East Carolina University | Teaching Instructor/Teaching Assistant Professor | Greenville, SC | 03/13/2025 | $70,436 |
| Illinois State University | GA Teaching-Mathematics (Master's)-Fall 2025/Spring 2026 | Kane, IL | 02/19/2025 | $39,392 |
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