Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
What Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondarys do
Typical education: Master's Degree
Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as acting techniques, fundamentals of music, and art history.
Top skills:SpeakingInstructingLearning StrategiesReading ComprehensionActive ListeningActive Learning
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary pay by experience level
Entry level$49,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$64,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$81,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$107,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$169,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
9,000
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary salary by industry
Educational Services
93,320 workers
$98,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
74,280 workers
$97,000
Educational Services, Privately Owned
43,340 workers
$104,500
Educational Services, State Government Owned
35,580 workers
$83,500
Junior Colleges
16,330 workers
$101,500
Educational Services, Local Government Owned
14,400 workers
$114,500
Other Schools and Instruction
2,320 workers
$100,000
Technical and Trade Schools
350 workers
$80,500
Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries
190 workers
$148,000
Performing Arts Companies
90 workers
$100,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary pays 11% above the average across 65 roles in the Educational Instruction and Library job family (family average $88,500).
Similar-paying roles in Educational Instruction and Library
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary make?
The average base salary for a Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States is $98,000 per year, or about $47.12 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $64,000 and $107,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Educational Instruction and Library roles?
The Educational Instruction and Library job family averages $88,500 across 65 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
