2025 Average Instructor Salary by State
The 2025 instructor salary of U.S. colleges is increased by 3.32% from $58,681 to $60,631. By college type:
- At public schools, the average instructor salary is $66,938, which is 3.33% higher than 2024.
- The private school's average salary is $55,691, a increase of 3.16%.
- The average instructor salary at national universities is $68,073, increase of 2.79%.
- The average instructor salary at liberal arts colleges is $61,828, increase of 2.19%.
- The average instructor salary at community colleges is $65,852, increase of 3.15%.
Highest and Lowest State Faculty Salary
Professors' salaries vary from state to state due to factors such as population and cost of living. The statements below describes the highest and lowest faculty salary by state and school type.
- California has the highest Instructor salary of $83,216 and Arkansas has the lowest Instructor salary of $47,182.
- For public schools, California has the highest Instructor salary of $108,046 and Rhode Island has the lowest Instructor salary of $45,264.
- For private schools, Rhode Island has the highest Instructor salary of $72,589 and Hawaii has the lowest Instructor salary of $42,288.
- For national universities, Alaska has the highest Instructor salary of $93,275 and New Hampshire has the lowest Instructor salary of $27,489.
- For liberal arts colleges, Vermont has the highest Instructor salary of $79,446 and Mississippi has the lowest Instructor salary of $42,668.
- For community colleges, California has the highest Instructor salary of $102,745 and District of Columbia has the lowest Instructor salary of $40,140.
Comparison of 2025 Instructor Salary by State
| State | All Colleges | Public Schools | Private Schools | National Universities | Liberal Arts Colleges | Community Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,799 4.29% | $62,784 4.43% | $46,400 4.13% | $64,680 4.80% | - | $58,853 5.99% |
| Alaska | $59,343 0.66% | $72,933 6.49% | $45,753 7.40% | $93,275 13.65% | - | - |
| Arizona | $53,980 2.74% | $62,605 3.43% | $50,452 3.07% | $60,041 0.38% | - | $56,550 0.03% |
| New Mexico | $57,867 1.51% | $57,374 1.34% | $60,453 2.32% | $53,939 3.20% | - | $58,602 4.76% |
| Arkansas | $47,182 2.48% | $48,695 3.13% | $44,274 1.33% | $54,179 5.28% | $50,838 4.83% | $46,470 3.74% |
| California | $83,216 2.83% | $108,046 2.86% | $63,124 3.27% | $74,967 4.95% | $69,448 2.20% | $102,745 2.58% |
| Colorado | $53,582 2.42% | $63,325 0.66% | $46,004 4.72% | $72,060 3.12% | $63,875 16.28% | $60,177 5.68% |
| Connecticut | $66,196 0.43% | $69,124 1.77% | $64,599 0.47% | $73,275 2.06% | $65,124 9.01% | $63,334 3.64% |
| New York | $59,239 2.69% | $59,458 1.21% | $59,149 3.38% | $80,648 2.89% | $71,228 1.74% | $54,754 0.31% |
| Delaware | $68,221 1.86% | $72,106 7.66% | $60,450 | $76,167 11.24% | - | - |
| District of Columbia | $72,069 7.82% | $69,682 4.50% | $72,334 9.22% | $83,910 0.27% | - | $40,140 - |
| Florida | $55,381 6.15% | $59,210 2.71% | $53,957 7.12% | $62,582 0.40% | $59,321 7.96% | $41,915 8.39% |
| Georgia | $50,919 0.71% | $54,323 0.71% | $47,320 1.72% | $61,042 2.01% | $53,746 7.18% | $46,774 2.75% |
| Hawaii | $67,760 3.51% | $75,402 4.20% | $42,288 0.39% | $83,011 6.38% | - | $72,189 3.65% |
| Idaho | $58,321 8.78% | $57,862 1.16% | $58,962 21.35% | $58,512 0.71% | - | $58,658 1.17% |
| Illinois | $63,686 2.71% | $69,896 3.15% | $58,616 2.01% | $71,200 1.93% | $60,557 8.49% | $71,171 4.11% |
| Indiana | $57,164 11.48% | $57,279 2.16% | $57,140 13.80% | $72,349 21.57% | $57,731 2.68% | $42,335 17.74% |
| Iowa | $55,411 3.23% | $59,321 1.03% | $53,064 4.52% | $58,476 1.21% | $59,852 5.15% | $59,636 2.38% |
| Kansas | $53,308 8.15% | $54,449 4.28% | $50,611 14.44% | $63,236 10.26% | - | $52,910 3.71% |
| Missouri | $53,849 0.03% | $54,502 2.46% | $53,490 1.39% | $67,828 9.41% | $76,367 34.80% | $54,356 2.84% |
| Kentucky | $48,311 0.72% | $46,378 1.28% | $49,947 0.14% | $54,440 1.70% | $56,198 7.19% | $43,137 2.18% |
| Louisiana | $50,600 0.08% | $53,495 0.33% | $46,258 0.78% | $55,036 2.93% | $54,960 1.81% | $50,015 1.86% |
| Maine | $60,770 2.63% | $60,794 4.72% | $60,740 0.47% | $59,198 19.94% | $78,000 7.82% | $63,369 2.93% |
| Maryland | $67,481 2.93% | $68,752 0.59% | $64,516 7.09% | $80,914 1.70% | $75,111 20.33% | $58,717 0.81% |
| Massachusetts | $70,403 5.34% | $70,075 12.92% | $70,575 1.87% | $80,511 4.53% | $68,075 2.44% | $65,537 8.46% |
| Michigan | $63,733 1.72% | $72,848 0.83% | $51,843 2.55% | $71,643 2.31% | $46,774 4.73% | $75,582 0.66% |
| Minnesota | $70,453 5.76% | $77,724 8.12% | $58,940 0.77% | $65,930 2.20% | $63,452 1.99% | $84,531 10.43% |
| Mississippi | $50,745 0.69% | $54,022 0.58% | $42,964 1.04% | $49,998 1.21% | $42,668 1.13% | $53,151 1.12% |
| Montana | $54,852 4.17% | $55,344 6.28% | $53,377 2.11% | $62,531 16.55% | - | $57,582 7.45% |
| Nebraska | $56,637 0.48% | $60,617 3.91% | $53,019 2.86% | $66,472 6.52% | - | $65,342 4.00% |
| Nevada | $68,237 4.75% | $78,325 9.54% | $59,831 1.78% | $71,988 7.94% | - | - |
| New Hampshire | $55,556 4.60% | $50,936 0.07% | $57,867 7.17% | $27,489 153.12% | $61,747 2.15% | $50,936 0.07% |
| New Jersey | $54,440 1.83% | $63,238 5.70% | $48,488 2.78% | $74,880 2.59% | - | $58,349 7.26% |
| North Carolina | $57,550 10.14% | $64,906 7.54% | $53,688 10.12% | $71,525 11.74% | $57,260 1.99% | $55,451 11.69% |
| North Dakota | $55,422 2.85% | $55,302 4.46% | $55,709 0.77% | $56,784 0.71% | - | $53,581 1.39% |
| Ohio | $53,371 1.88% | $55,586 3.22% | $52,312 1.21% | $64,331 3.58% | $56,123 7.77% | $51,315 4.68% |
| Oklahoma | $50,488 2.49% | $50,672 2.05% | $50,120 3.17% | $68,130 6.56% | $46,253 1.61% | $46,721 2.90% |
| Oregon | $71,353 6.12% | $77,083 8.25% | $57,981 2.05% | $66,294 0.90% | $61,938 6.71% | $81,053 9.82% |
| Pennsylvania | $59,454 2.98% | $66,759 5.70% | $55,591 1.17% | $73,820 7.08% | $64,565 2.68% | $50,198 2.06% |
| Rhode Island | $65,758 2.75% | $45,264 18.36% | $72,589 4.15% | - | - | $45,264 10.41% |
| South Carolina | $56,210 4.75% | $61,428 2.05% | $52,514 6.87% | $61,679 5.51% | $56,457 1.07% | $56,108 8.48% |
| South Dakota | $56,505 1.25% | $62,008 2.46% | $43,298 12.17% | $54,520 8.90% | - | $68,361 4.95% |
| Tennessee | $51,448 2.42% | $54,735 1.58% | $49,524 3.20% | $57,434 1.26% | $53,310 8.15% | $50,767 5.05% |
| Texas | $55,953 1.27% | $60,499 1.24% | $52,357 1.19% | $66,387 1.92% | $54,335 10.88% | $52,540 1.32% |
| Utah | $66,343 3.23% | $63,474 1.37% | $68,256 4.19% | $64,588 5.67% | - | $56,868 3.72% |
| Vermont | $70,240 2.60% | $63,500 0.77% | $71,925 3.87% | $63,500 0.77% | $79,446 6.63% | - |
| Virginia | $61,511 5.59% | $67,386 5.82% | $56,320 5.61% | $63,948 7.97% | $62,772 0.69% | $63,161 4.88% |
| Washington | $62,181 3.40% | $82,469 10.13% | $57,350 1.94% | $68,017 3.21% | $78,720 2.07% | $67,934 3.27% |
| West Virginia | $49,101 6.82% | $51,154 9.01% | $46,258 3.64% | $50,458 2.42% | - | $46,987 4.42% |
| Wisconsin | $68,714 7.26% | $79,346 7.80% | $58,613 5.82% | $84,030 24.11% | $61,440 20.40% | $79,528 3.37% |
| Wyoming | $58,429 7.42% | $59,249 7.76% | $52,689 4.77% | $52,332 8.02% | - | $60,402 10.50% |
| Average | $60,631 3.32% | $66,938 3.33% | $55,691 3.16% | $68,073 2.79% | $61,828 2.19% | $65,852 3.15% |