Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1062 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary is $86,030, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $100,390, and an estimated 11,570 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +9.1% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -7.3% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 2.4% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $86,030 | $86,030 | 11,570 |
| 2022 | $80,910 | $84,241 | 9,340 |
| 2021 | $78,910 | $88,733 | 9,040 |
| 2020 | $78,840 | $92,819 | 9,960 |
Nominal change
+9.1%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-7.3%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+2.4%
About average
Employment 2024
14,500
Projected 2034
14,800
Annual Openings
1,100
Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $86,030. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $115,840 | +34.7% | 1,160 |
| Kansas | $102,960 | +19.7% | 90 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $102,840 | +19.5% | — |
| Connecticut | $102,620 | +19.3% | 170 |
| Vermont | $102,600 | +19.3% | 100 |
| Maine | $101,620 | +18.1% | 30 |
| District of Columbia | $100,310 | +16.6% | 180 |
| New Jersey | $99,980 | +16.2% | 490 |
| Michigan | $99,350 | +15.5% | 330 |
| New York | $99,040 | +15.1% | 2,010 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$51,590
25th Pct
$65,390
Median
$86,030
75th Pct
$111,650
90th Pct
$169,680
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh | PA | 5 | $53,000 |
| University of Illinois | IL | 2 | $80,000 |
| University of Wisconsin System | WI | 2 | $56,888 |
| Arizona State University | AZ | 2 | $86,500 |
| University of Minnesota | MN | 1 | $88,248 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | TN | 1 | $48,480 |
| The University of Southern California | CA | 1 | $70,000 |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | IL | 1 | $72,000 |
| Central Washington University | WA | 1 | $69,500 |
| Soka University of America | CA | 1 | $94,001 |
| University of Notre Dame du Lac | IN | 1 | $185,000 |
| California State University, Northridge | CA | 1 | $84,504 |
| University of Colorado | CO | 1 | $80,000 |
| DePaul University | IL | 1 | $69,650 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE | CA | 1 | $168,000 |
| Washington University | MO | 1 | $67,000 |
| Columbia University | NY | 1 | $67,000 |
| University of California at Santa Barbara | CA | 1 | $75,100 |
| New York University | NY | 1 | $70,000 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | CA | 1 | $83,470 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Educational Instruction & Library
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.