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.
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: Doctoral Degree and 5 or more years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, or handouts.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as family behavior, child and adolescent mental health, or social intervention evaluation.
Top skills:InstructingSpeakingLearning StrategiesWritingReading ComprehensionCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary pay by experience level
Entry level$50,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$63,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$80,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$104,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$131,000
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
+2.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,300
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.
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary salary by industry
Educational Services
12,590 workers
$87,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
11,540 workers
$87,500
Educational Services, State Government Owned
6,890 workers
$86,000
Educational Services, Privately Owned
4,600 workers
$87,500
Educational Services, Local Government Owned
1,100 workers
$88,000
Junior Colleges
1,050 workers
$78,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, or handouts.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as family behavior, child and adolescent mental health, or social intervention evaluation.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary pays 2% below 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 Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary make?
The average base salary for a Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States is $87,000 per year, or about $41.83 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $63,500 and $104,000 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 Social Work 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.
