Communications Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median $78,580 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
U.S. median
$78,580
$37.78 per hour
Range
$47,590 – $143,720
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
29,420
across the U.S.
▲1.0%
Pay trend: The median for communications teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. rose from $77,800 (May 2024) to $78,580 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 1.4%.
What communications teachers, postsecondary do
Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.1% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 2,400
Employment of communications teachers, postsecondary is projected to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,400 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.
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$64,111
per year · effective tax rate 18.4%
$5,343Monthly
$2,671Twice a month
$2,466Every 2 weeks
$30.82Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,458
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,872
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,139
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,111
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,590 | $22.88 | $40,419 |
| 25th percentile | $61,250 | $29.45 | $51,394 |
| Median (50th) | $78,580 | $37.78 | $64,111 |
| 75th percentile | $102,450 | $49.25 | $80,904 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $143,720 | $69.10 | $109,499 |
Best cities for communications teachers, postsecondary (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $97,760 | $72,877 | $64,743 | 2,430 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $97,760
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $135,000 | +0.2% | $93,458 | $78,660 – $218,880 | 3,140 |
| Delaware | $100,260 | +54.0% | $74,087 | $52,090 – $162,360 | 60 |
| Oregon | $98,900 | +9.7% | $70,582 | $48,930 – $233,790 | 490 |
| Connecticut | $97,210 | −0.5% | $73,446 | $58,020 – $134,890 | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $95,910 | +3.3% | $73,323 | $66,540 – $129,640 | 110 |
| New Hampshire | $95,760 | +27.7% | $76,197 | $67,570 – $109,250 | 40 |
| Michigan | $87,670 | +6.7% | $67,031 | $46,990 – $137,120 | 630 |
| New York | $84,690 | +0.3% | $64,433 | $49,920 – $208,260 | 2,490 |
| District of Columbia | $83,910 | +3.6% | $63,697 | $53,150 – $137,160 | 180 |
| Maryland | $83,510 | +6.9% | $63,976 | $46,530 – $164,180 | 440 |
| Minnesota | $83,380 | +5.2% | $63,341 | $59,480 – $108,430 | 450 |
| Massachusetts | $82,610 | +6.2% | $63,036 | $60,730 – $161,740 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $82,020 | +4.2% | $66,531 | $61,530 – $137,660 | 70 |
| South Carolina | $79,810 | +8.5% | $61,345 | $48,020 – $105,660 | 320 |
| Nebraska | $79,180 | +17.5% | $61,810 | $49,380 – $137,260 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $78,780 | +2.1% | $61,457 | $53,180 – $118,400 | 640 |
| Illinois | $78,150 | −1.4% | $60,085 | $46,730 – $118,210 | 1,580 |
| North Dakota | $78,120 | +3.5% | $63,523 | $52,990 – $108,960 | 50 |
| Montana | $78,110 | −4.4% | $60,728 | $50,110 – $131,670 | 60 |
| Maine | $78,000 | +3.1% | $59,620 | $58,300 – $111,440 | 60 |
| Utah | $77,950 | +24.1% | $61,126 | $59,160 – $137,370 | 180 |
| West Virginia | $77,880 | +16.7% | $60,800 | $50,770 – $101,780 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,790 | −1.4% | $61,167 | $48,950 – $116,140 | 1,530 |
| New Jersey | $77,780 | −6.8% | $60,784 | $32,220 – $132,870 | 1,380 |
| Iowa | $77,700 | +14.3% | $61,191 | $51,380 – $104,740 | 320 |
| Ohio | $77,660 | +20.7% | $62,111 | $40,240 – $105,780 | 1,390 |
| Louisiana | $77,250 | +15.3% | $61,244 | $51,130 – $123,690 | 170 |
| Texas | $77,050 | +1.1% | $63,035 | $46,600 – $127,050 | 2,880 |
| Wyoming | $76,760 | +3.9% | $62,831 | $48,480 – $96,320 | 50 |
| Vermont | $76,120 | — | $59,817 | $48,150 – $115,450 | 60 |
| Washington | $75,330 | +4.1% | $61,825 | $49,960 – $102,640 | 420 |
| Virginia | $73,750 | +1.9% | $57,287 | $50,060 – $126,130 | 790 |
| Georgia | $73,430 | +11.8% | $57,300 | $38,850 – $108,090 | 460 |
| Missouri | $71,830 | +8.0% | $56,924 | $48,150 – $107,640 | 480 |
| South Dakota | $71,300 | +15.6% | $58,990 | $50,190 – $83,000 | 80 |
| Arizona | $71,230 | +4.2% | $57,368 | $71,230 – $110,870 | 630 |
| Colorado | $69,200 | +6.6% | $55,176 | $37,820 – $126,910 | 560 |
| Oklahoma | $66,650 | +4.2% | $53,265 | $38,100 – $86,330 | 230 |
| Tennessee | $66,630 | +9.6% | $55,704 | $49,800 – $103,320 | 440 |
| North Carolina | $65,850 | −0.8% | $52,972 | $43,360 – $106,930 | 950 |
| Florida | $65,740 | +2.6% | $55,002 | $51,120 – $98,830 | 1,260 |
| Indiana | $65,390 | +2.7% | $52,821 | $48,760 – $107,480 | 670 |
| Kansas | $64,180 | +0.5% | $50,967 | $30,370 – $137,740 | 300 |
| Alabama | $63,760 | +2.9% | $50,488 | $47,420 – $99,160 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $62,380 | −0.1% | $50,237 | $33,520 – $105,720 | 470 |
| Mississippi | $61,290 | −3.4% | $49,707 | $31,600 – $78,730 | 180 |
| Arkansas | $59,810 | −2.9% | $48,117 | $47,450 – $78,440 | 140 |
| New Mexico | $49,880 | +4.2% | $41,080 | $42,680 – $89,270 | 400 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,620 | Master's degree | +2.2% |
| 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% |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $77,270 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.2% |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,940 | Doctoral or professional degree | +1.7% |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,250 | Doctoral or professional degree | +17.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a communications teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median salary for communications teachers, postsecondary is $78,580 a year ($37.78 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,590 and the top 10% earn over $143,720. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays communications teachers, postsecondary the most?
California has the highest median pay at $135,000. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many communications teachers, postsecondary are there in the U.S.?
About 29,420 people work as communications teachers, postsecondary nationwide.