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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Transitional Studies Instructor in the United States is approximately $61,060 per year or $29 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, the type of educational institution, and years of experience in the field. For instance, instructors in states like California and New York tend to command higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for educational professionals.
In terms of opportunities, cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago are known for offering competitive compensation packages for Transitional Studies Instructors. Additionally, as educational institutions increasingly recognize the importance of transitional studies, the demand for qualified instructors is expected to grow. This presents an excellent opportunity for aspiring educators to enter the field and find rewarding positions.
To maximize your earning potential, consider pursuing advanced degrees or certifications in education. These qualifications can open doors to higher-paying roles and leadership positions within educational institutions. Be sure to explore job boards like Zippia to find the latest openings and salary insights specific to your location and expertise.
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The highest-paying states for transitional studies instructors are California, New York, and Maryland. The lowest average transitional studies instructor salary states are Missouri, Mississippi, and Nebraska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $81,542 | $39.20 |
| 2 | New York | $71,441 | $34.35 |
| 3 | South Carolina | $59,992 | $28.84 |
| 4 | Maryland | $69,246 | $33.29 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $62,884 | $30.23 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $68,764 | $33.06 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $57,025 | $27.42 |
| 8 | Maine | $67,652 | $32.52 |
| 9 | Virginia | $60,559 | $29.11 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $61,096 | $29.37 |
| 11 | Montana | $57,225 | $27.51 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $55,742 | $26.80 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $59,380 | $28.55 |
| 14 | Idaho | $61,989 | $29.80 |
| 15 | Kansas | $60,343 | $29.01 |
| 16 | Washington | $66,350 | $31.90 |
| 17 | Oregon | $57,620 | $27.70 |
| 18 | Indiana | $61,487 | $29.56 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $61,315 | $29.48 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $58,060 | $27.91 |
| 21 | Alabama | $57,914 | $27.84 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $58,128 | $27.95 |
| 23 | Ohio | $56,499 | $27.16 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $57,944 | $27.86 |
| 25 | Illinois | $56,786 | $27.30 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $58,438 | $28.10 |
| 27 | Delaware | $53,235 | $25.59 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $53,073 | $25.52 |
| 29 | Iowa | $50,871 | $24.46 |
| 30 | Nevada | $49,985 | $24.03 |
| 31 | Michigan | $49,864 | $23.97 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $53,363 | $25.66 |
| 33 | Colorado | $48,277 | $23.21 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $51,286 | $24.66 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $49,743 | $23.91 |
| 36 | Florida | $50,819 | $24.43 |
| 37 | Vermont | $49,349 | $23.73 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $53,696 | $25.82 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $46,504 | $22.36 |
| 40 | Arizona | $46,725 | $22.46 |
| 41 | Texas | $46,454 | $22.33 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $45,044 | $21.66 |
| 43 | Utah | $45,770 | $22.00 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $45,695 | $21.97 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $52,130 | $25.06 |
| 46 | Alaska | $38,638 | $18.58 |
| 47 | Georgia | $36,263 | $17.43 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $45,373 | $21.81 |
| 50 | Missouri | $45,132 | $21.70 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $41,075 | $19.75 |
The highest-paying cities for transitional studies instructors are Santa Rosa, CA, New York, NY, and Kent, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $87,655 | $42.14 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $71,735 | $34.49 |
| 3 | Kent, WA | $66,817 | $32.12 |
| 4 | Erie, PA | $66,607 | $32.02 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $61,171 | $29.41 |
| 6 | Newark, NJ | $61,134 | $29.39 |
| 7 | Manhattan, KS | $60,324 | $29.00 |
| 8 | Spartanburg, SC | $60,125 | $28.91 |
| 9 | Charlottesville, VA | $59,966 | $28.83 |
| 10 | Eugene, OR | $58,485 | $28.12 |
| 11 | Birmingham, AL | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| 12 | Wooster, OH | $57,523 | $27.66 |
| 13 | Downers Grove, IL | $56,773 | $27.29 |
| 14 | Morgantown, WV | $54,879 | $26.38 |
| 15 | Wallingford, CT | $53,701 | $25.82 |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $52,301 | $25.14 |
| 17 | Miami, FL | $50,977 | $24.51 |
| 18 | Ottumwa, IA | $50,916 | $24.48 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $50,181 | $24.13 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $48,269 | $23.21 |
A transitional studies instructor's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $98,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $98,000 | $8,167 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| Average | $61,060 | $5,088 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
The highest paying types of transitional studies instructors are literacy consultant, esol instructor, and literacy specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Education Teacher | $41,280 | $3,440 | $19.85 | 70,775 |
| Instructor Of Spanish | $54,930 | $4,578 | $26.41 | 25,516 |
| Adjunct English Instructor | $55,901 | $4,658 | $26.88 | 38,052 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
| Early Childhood Education Instructor | $41,294 | $3,441 | $19.85 | 68,342 |
| English Instructor | $53,915 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 27,111 |
Top companies hiring transitional studies instructors now:
Transitional studies instructor salaries at PSEA and Job Corps are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average transitional studies instructor salary at companies like Harvard University and Truckee Meadows Community College are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSEA | $74,684 | $35.91 |
| 2 | Job Corps | $72,338 | $34.78 |
| 3 | Harvard University | $71,962 | $34.60 |
| 4 | Truckee Meadows Community College | $69,294 | $33.31 |
| 5 | Midwestern University | $68,437 | $32.90 |
| 6 | Berklee College of Music | $67,536 | $32.47 |
| 7 | Loyola Marymount University | $66,754 | $32.09 |
| 8 | 6K Systems | $62,553 | $30.07 |
| 9 | University of Arizona Foundation | $60,365 | $29.02 |
| 10 | OHDS | $60,331 | $29.01 |
| 11 | Goddard College | $59,733 | $28.72 |
| 12 | Pico de Gallo | $58,979 | $28.36 |
| 13 | Access International, Inc. | $58,934 | $28.33 |
| 14 | Genesee Community College | $58,439 | $28.10 |
| 15 | Mercyhurst University | $58,437 | $28.09 |
| 16 | Western Washington University | $58,174 | $27.97 |
| 17 | Dickinson College | $57,504 | $27.65 |
| 18 | The University of Alabama | $56,578 | $27.20 |
| 19 | Daymar College | $56,354 | $27.09 |
| 20 | MV Transportation | $55,831 | $26.84 |
The average transitional studies instructor salary has risen by $8,803 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average transitional studies instructor earned $52,257 annually, but today, they earn $61,060 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for transitional studies instructors over the last decade.
Compare transitional studies instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare transitional studies instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $61,100 | $29.36 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $60,000 | $28.83 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $59,200 | $28.44 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $57,500 | $27.63 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $55,900 | $26.86 | +0.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State University | Contemplative Instructor-Contemplative Studies Initiative | Corvallis, OR | 06/29/2025 | $38,818 |
| Victor Valley College | Instructor, Ethnic Studies | Victorville, CA | 06/27/2025 | $67,886 |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Instructor Classical Studies | Delaware, OH | 06/16/2025 | $60,000 |
| Pia | General Studies Instructor | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/06/2025 | $55,000 |
| Yeshiva University | Judaic Studies Instructor | New York, NY | 05/30/2025 | $60,000 |
| Oregon State University | Contemplative Studies Instructor Pool | Corvallis, OR | 05/28/2025 | $38,818 |
| El Centro de La Raza | Ethnic Studies Instructor | Seattle, WA | 05/11/2025 | $66,784 |
| Colorado State University | 2025 International Studies Instructor-Open Pool | Fort Collins, CO | 04/30/2025 | $46,000 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Native American Studies Tenure Track Instructor | Santa Rosa, CA | 04/22/2025 | $84,450 |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Instructor Classical Studies | Delaware, OH | 04/04/2025 | $60,000 |
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