Instructor, Academic Salary in the United States

How much does an Instructor, Academic make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Instructor, Academic in the United States is $62,631 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, an Instructor, Academic's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,830
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,385 to $71,110
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,876

Key Factors That Influence Instructor, Academic Salaries

An Instructor, Academic's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Instructor, Academic Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Instructor, Academics. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $69,345.
  • California: $69,082.
  • Massachusetts: $68,162.

Top Paying Cities for Instructor, Academics

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $78,997
  • San Francisco: $78,132
  • Oakland: $76,485

What Skills Can Increase an Instructor, Academic's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 12.26% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.48% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 12.26%
Microsoft Office 2.48%
Programming 1.35%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Instructor, Academic's salary.

  • Coaching Others: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Safety Training: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Pediatric: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coaching Others $83,299
33%
Safety Training $73,905
18%
Pediatric $68,268
9%

Instructor, Academic Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Instructor, Academic roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 15% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Government, offers compensation 5% above the average. Conversely, Instructor, Academic positions in Education typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Instructor, Academic as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Instructor, Academic

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Government$65,763$32.05%
Nonprofit$65,763$32.05%

How Education impacts an Instructor, Academic's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Instructor, Academics enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Instructor, Academic with a Bachelor's Degree is between $54,608 and $64,710).

Instructor, Academic Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Instructor, Academic
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 2.7%
Associates 4.0%
Bachelors 37.1%
Masters 48.2%
Doctorate 6.3%

Instructor, Academic Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Instructor, Academic's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$54,385
Average $62,631/year
$71,110
$4,532
Average $5,219/month
$5,926
$1,046
Average $1,204/week
$1,368
$26
Average $30/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,110 $5,926 $1,368 $34
Average $62,631 $5,219 $1,204 $30
25th Percentile $54,385 $4,532 $1,046 $26

Most common benefits for Instructor, Academic

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Instructor, Academic

Here are companies hiring for Instructor, Academic and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Instructor, Academic

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Instructor, Academic?

The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Instructor, Academic roles, with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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