Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Writing instructor salary
Average writing instructor salary
$52,334
Understanding Writing Instructor Salaries
A Writing Instructor plays a crucial role in developing the writing skills of students across various educational settings. As of October 2025, the average salary for Writing Instructors is approximately $52,334 per year. However, salaries can differ based on geographic location, educational qualifications, and years of experience.
Factors Influencing Salary
Instructors in states like California and New York often earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled educators. For example, the average salary in California is notably higher, reflecting regional economic conditions.
Job Opportunities
Writing Instructors find opportunities in public schools, universities, and online education platforms. By specializing in areas such as creative writing or technical writing, professionals can further enhance their earning potential. Teaching experience and advanced degrees can also lead to higher salaries and better job prospects.
Let Zippi find your next writing instructor job
Let Zippi find your next writing instructor job
Where can a Writing Instructor earn more?
Average writing instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for writing instructors are New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The lowest average writing instructor salary states are Ohio, South Carolina, and New Mexico.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for writing instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $67,942 | $32.66 |
| 2 | New York | $77,552 | $37.28 |
| 3 | Delaware | $67,165 | $32.29 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $71,141 | $34.20 |
| 5 | California | $66,467 | $31.96 |
| 6 | Alaska | $58,771 | $28.26 |
| 7 | Michigan | $58,264 | $28.01 |
| 8 | Montana | $55,299 | $26.59 |
| 9 | Vermont | $59,551 | $28.63 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $64,666 | $31.09 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $75,121 | $36.12 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $69,036 | $33.19 |
| 13 | Utah | $60,842 | $29.25 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $57,146 | $27.47 |
| 15 | Maryland | $60,119 | $28.90 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $57,450 | $27.62 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $54,031 | $25.98 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $69,138 | $33.24 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $53,029 | $25.49 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $49,532 | $23.81 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $56,998 | $27.40 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $53,116 | $25.54 |
| 23 | Maine | $52,930 | $25.45 |
| 24 | Oregon | $48,586 | $23.36 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $48,244 | $23.19 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $46,066 | $22.15 |
| 27 | Washington | $54,502 | $26.20 |
| 28 | Colorado | $44,978 | $21.62 |
| 29 | Georgia | $44,917 | $21.59 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $42,783 | $20.57 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $48,829 | $23.48 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $45,899 | $22.07 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $47,359 | $22.77 |
| 34 | Virginia | $46,537 | $22.37 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $48,915 | $23.52 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $48,164 | $23.16 |
| 37 | Iowa | $42,633 | $20.50 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $40,774 | $19.60 |
| 39 | Kansas | $45,239 | $21.75 |
| 40 | Illinois | $45,559 | $21.90 |
| 41 | Florida | $43,440 | $20.88 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,846 | $21.56 |
| 43 | Arizona | $44,079 | $21.19 |
| 44 | Texas | $43,647 | $20.98 |
| 45 | Missouri | $44,907 | $21.59 |
| 46 | Ohio | $41,862 | $20.13 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $42,536 | $20.45 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $40,062 | $19.26 |
| 49 | Idaho | $33,762 | $16.23 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $33,895 | $16.30 |
| 51 | Indiana | $30,178 | $14.51 |
Highest paying cities for writing instructors
The highest-paying cities for writing instructors are New York, NY, Newport, RI, and Palo Alto, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $77,722 | $37.37 |
| 2 | Newport, RI | $71,515 | $34.38 |
| 3 | Palo Alto, CA | $71,381 | $34.32 |
| 4 | New Brunswick, NJ | $57,317 | $27.56 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,556 | $23.82 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $45,727 | $21.98 |
| 7 | Salisbury, NC | $45,707 | $21.97 |
| 8 | Prescott, AZ | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $44,083 | $21.19 |
| 10 | Anderson, SC | $40,943 | $19.68 |
Writing instructor salary details
A writing instructor's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a writing instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $52,334 | $4,361 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying writing instructor jobs
The highest paying types of writing instructors are language instructor, english language teacher, and english professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Professor Of English | $55,207 | $4,601 | $26.54 | 28,417 |
| English As A Second Language Teacher | $55,428 | $4,619 | $26.65 | 97,211 |
| English Language Teacher | $57,831 | $4,819 | $27.80 | 74,779 |
| English Professor | $56,038 | $4,670 | $26.94 | 20,821 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| English As A Second Language Instructor | $52,775 | $4,398 | $25.37 | 69,978 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for writing instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Patricia Bayona
Assistant Professor of Spanish, North Central College
Which companies pay writing instructors the most?
Writing instructor salaries at New York University and Rutgers University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average writing instructor salary at companies like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and The City University of New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University | $75,863 | $36.47 |
| 2 | Rutgers University | $63,875 | $30.71 |
| 3 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | $63,202 | $30.39 |
| 4 | The City University of New York | $62,233 | $29.92 |
| 5 | Colgate University | $62,162 | $29.89 |
| 6 | The Culinary Institute of America | $60,507 | $29.09 |
| 7 | Research Foundation of The City University of New York | $59,438 | $28.58 |
| 8 | Oliver | $58,851 | $28.29 |
| 9 | The Chicago High School for the Arts | $58,219 | $27.99 |
| 10 | Oakland University | $57,790 | $27.78 |
| 11 | Salve Regina University | $56,451 | $27.14 |
| 12 | Education Unlimited | $52,490 | $25.24 |
| 13 | University of Rochester | $51,902 | $24.95 |
| 14 | SUNY College at Old Westbury | $49,434 | $23.77 |
| 15 | Livingstone College | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| 16 | University of Pennsylvania | $44,735 | $21.51 |
| 17 | Umpqua Community College | $25,711 | $12.36 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Writing instructor salary trends
The average writing instructor salary has risen by $5,756 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average writing instructor earned $46,578 annually, but today, they earn $52,334 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for writing instructors over the last decade.
Compare writing instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average writing instructor salary over time
Compare writing instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Writing instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,300 | $25.16 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | $51,900 | $24.97 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $50,500 | $24.28 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $49,200 | $23.67 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $48,300 | $23.24 | +2.7% |
Recently added writing instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys Club of New York | Essay Writing Workshop Instructor | New York, NY | 06/18/2025 | $73,045 |
| Devine Consulting | PHD Advanced Graduate Writing Instructor, Onsite | Monterey, CA | 06/18/2025 | $56,182 |
| Boys Club of New York | Essay Writing Workshop Instructor | New York, NY | 05/29/2025 | $73,045 |
| Loyola University Maryland | Affiliate Instructor-Writing | Baltimore, MD | 05/20/2025 | $48,000 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Writing Instructor | Westchester, FL | 04/27/2025 | $69,000 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Writing Instructor | Los Angeles, CA | 04/24/2025 | $69,000 |
| North Dakota University System | English-Writing Instructor | Bottineau, ND | 04/17/2025 | $45,000 |
| Umpqua Community College | Faculty: Writing Instructor (174 Contractual Days) | Roseburg, OR | 04/12/2025 | $57,373 |
| University of North Texas System | Writing Center Instructor | Denton, TX | 01/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Education Unlimited | Middle School Writing Instructor for Summer Camp 2024 | Washington, DC | 01/15/2025 | $65,219 |
Writing instructor salary FAQs
Search for writing instructor jobs