Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1054 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary is $98,020, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $106,950, and an estimated 14,030 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +8.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -7.9% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 2.5% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Physics 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 | $98,020 | $98,020 | 14,030 |
| 2022 | $86,550 | $90,113 | 12,860 |
| 2021 | $93,070 | $104,656 | 12,460 |
| 2020 | $90,400 | $106,429 | 13,670 |
Nominal change
+8.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-7.9%
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
+2.5%
About average
Employment 2024
17,100
Projected 2034
17,500
Annual Openings
1,300
Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Physics Teachers, Postsecondary earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $98,020. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $125,440 | +28% | 1,490 |
| Connecticut | $124,960 | +27.5% | 210 |
| Minnesota | $108,440 | +10.6% | 230 |
| Arizona | $107,650 | +9.8% | 180 |
| New York | $107,590 | +9.8% | 1,170 |
| Oregon | $106,640 | +8.8% | 150 |
| Maryland | $106,250 | +8.4% | 330 |
| Montana | $106,210 | +8.4% | 60 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $106,210 | +8.4% | 40 |
| Michigan | $105,960 | +8.1% | 440 |
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
$55,150
25th Pct
$66,780
Median
$98,020
75th Pct
$131,140
90th Pct
$171,820
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 Mississippi | MS | 3 | $72,000 |
| University of Wisconsin System | WI | 3 | $112,000 |
| State University of New York at Stony Brook | NY | 3 | $96,000 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | VA | 2 | $100,000 |
| University of Utah | UT | 2 | $105,000 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | 2 | $135,000 |
| Purdue University | IN | 2 | $100,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | PA | 2 | $99,050 |
| The Trustees of Princeton University | NJ | 2 | $165,000 |
| Temple University--A Commonwealth University | PA | 2 | $100,000 |
| The University of Vermont | VT | 2 | $90,000 |
| Harvard University | MA | 2 | $66,228 |
| Brigham Young University | UT | 2 | $119,549 |
| Troy University | AL | 2 | $68,250 |
| Mississippi State University | MS | 1 | $58,599 |
| Colorado State University | CO | 1 | $91,350 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS | TX | 1 | $85,500 |
| The Florida State University | FL | 1 | $108,000 |
| The University of Arizona | AZ | 1 | $163,571 |
| The Ohio State University | OH | 1 | $98,000 |
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.