Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median $78,620 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
U.S. median
$78,620
$37.80 per hour
Range
$47,570 – $163,350
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
93,560
across the U.S.
▼2.0%
Pay trend: The median for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. fell from $80,190 (May 2024) to $78,620 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 4.4%.
What art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary do
Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.2% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 8,000
Employment of art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary is projected to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 8,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$64,139
per year · effective tax rate 18.4%
$5,345Monthly
$2,672Twice a month
$2,467Every 2 weeks
$30.84Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,466
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,874
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,140
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,139
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,570 | $22.87 | $40,402 |
| 25th percentile | $61,620 | $29.63 | $51,692 |
| Median (50th) | $78,620 | $37.80 | $64,139 |
| 75th percentile | $103,850 | $49.93 | $81,888 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,350 | $78.53 | $122,916 |
Best cities for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $100,950 | $74,933 | $66,569 | 13,080 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $96,170 | $71,897 | $66,408 | 3,820 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $91,490 | $67,725 | $59,635 | 5,200 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $48,069 | 2,950 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $100,950
- Boston, MA — $96,170
- Los Angeles, CA — $91,490
- Chicago, IL — $62,960
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $103,320 | +58.7% | $76,038 | $31,200 – $158,900 | 150 |
| California | $99,410 | −6.2% | $72,457 | $60,420 – $202,740 | 9,820 |
| New York | $98,850 | −10.1% | $73,579 | $58,140 – $239,200+ | 14,920 |
| Vermont | $97,980 | +13.2% | $73,752 | $53,190 – $134,690 | 180 |
| Rhode Island | $97,580 | −1.4% | $74,435 | $62,820 – $158,850 | 440 |
| District of Columbia | $96,900 | +16.7% | $71,731 | $63,380 – $131,090 | 350 |
| Massachusetts | $85,820 | +2.8% | $65,133 | $59,920 – $156,070 | 4,960 |
| Maryland | $85,590 | +5.0% | $65,341 | $50,900 – $170,120 | 1,280 |
| Michigan | $82,990 | +8.1% | $63,937 | $48,820 – $136,690 | 2,410 |
| New Jersey | $80,100 | −19.2% | $62,268 | $32,220 – $205,050 | 3,300 |
| Georgia | $79,870 | +0.8% | $61,496 | $45,860 – $120,790 | 1,910 |
| Maine | $79,860 | −2.4% | $60,797 | $52,570 – $166,410 | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $79,090 | −4.8% | $64,470 | $48,200 – $132,250 | 440 |
| Louisiana | $78,710 | +3.7% | $62,227 | $45,640 – $190,640 | 720 |
| Connecticut | $78,600 | −20.1% | $61,377 | $49,420 – $165,200 | 1,430 |
| Montana | $78,420 | +3.6% | $60,929 | $48,460 – $127,950 | 190 |
| Ohio | $78,050 | +6.8% | $62,374 | $37,970 – $129,520 | 3,940 |
| Washington | $77,950 | +0.8% | $63,668 | $52,230 – $103,170 | 1,400 |
| Minnesota | $77,760 | +1.6% | $59,770 | $48,840 – $123,150 | 1,310 |
| Iowa | $77,740 | +2.8% | $61,218 | $47,290 – $159,410 | 910 |
| Texas | $77,560 | +1.7% | $63,393 | $40,170 – $128,210 | 6,730 |
| Wisconsin | $77,560 | +21.9% | $60,663 | $51,280 – $99,530 | 1,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,280 | −4.9% | $60,824 | $38,460 – $122,210 | 4,170 |
| Oregon | $76,770 | +2.6% | $56,950 | $48,580 – $206,120 | 1,440 |
| New Mexico | $76,240 | +19.1% | $60,047 | $49,330 – $133,480 | 380 |
| Indiana | $76,050 | −1.0% | $60,117 | $49,080 – $140,900 | 1,920 |
| Missouri | $75,960 | −2.3% | $59,635 | $46,730 – $126,520 | 1,450 |
| Nebraska | $75,200 | +11.9% | $59,191 | $45,820 – $123,620 | 490 |
| Virginia | $74,870 | +10.2% | $58,010 | $43,520 – $124,260 | 2,840 |
| North Carolina | $73,800 | +9.8% | $58,312 | $45,460 – $104,620 | 2,880 |
| West Virginia | $73,280 | +13.1% | $57,785 | $51,280 – $99,250 | 340 |
| Idaho | $72,300 | +14.2% | $56,969 | $47,650 – $101,160 | 250 |
| Arizona | $72,060 | +5.4% | $57,931 | $62,150 – $110,050 | 1,040 |
| Tennessee | $72,030 | +10.8% | $59,503 | $49,000 – $108,110 | 1,370 |
| Colorado | $70,060 | +10.5% | $55,743 | $30,910 – $120,380 | 1,950 |
| North Dakota | $67,190 | +1.7% | $56,047 | $50,790 – $107,570 | 130 |
| Utah | $66,220 | +4.3% | $53,374 | $47,210 – $107,130 | 790 |
| Kentucky | $64,440 | +1.4% | $51,820 | $35,470 – $104,850 | 900 |
| Florida | $63,820 | −1.6% | $53,459 | $52,830 – $114,310 | 2,490 |
| Alabama | $63,540 | −0.8% | $50,322 | $51,000 – $96,320 | 900 |
| South Dakota | $63,380 | +2.3% | $53,106 | $51,360 – $81,890 | 200 |
| Illinois | $62,960 | −5.6% | $49,797 | $31,200 – $118,270 | 4,170 |
| South Carolina | $62,420 | −1.4% | $49,746 | $29,160 – $104,440 | 1,290 |
| Oklahoma | $62,200 | +1.6% | $49,904 | $34,570 – $83,650 | 760 |
| Kansas | $61,260 | +4.0% | $48,784 | $42,930 – $129,520 | 640 |
| Arkansas | $60,650 | −4.7% | $48,760 | $46,640 – $100,340 | 360 |
| Mississippi | $60,580 | −1.8% | $49,165 | $40,350 – $79,820 | 540 |
| Wyoming | $59,190 | −1.1% | $49,739 | $47,960 – $79,030 | 180 |
| Nevada | $52,870 | +6.8% | $44,661 | $49,850 – $107,470 | 260 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,580 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.1% |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,760 | Doctoral or professional degree | 0.0% |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,350 | Doctoral or professional degree | +0.2% |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,260 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.0% |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,820 | Doctoral or professional degree | 0.0% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $77,640 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.0% |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | $77,570 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.6% |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,940 | Doctoral or professional degree | +1.7% |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $77,270 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.2% |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,250 | Doctoral or professional degree | +17.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median salary for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary is $78,620 a year ($37.80 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,570 and the top 10% earn over $163,350. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary the most?
Delaware has the highest median pay at $103,320. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary are there in the U.S.?
About 93,560 people work as art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary nationwide.