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Area, ethnic and cultural studies teachers: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$85,020median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $52,070lowest 10% earn less
  2. $65,66025th percentile
  3. $85,020median
  4. $110,71075th percentile
  5. $160,420top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Postsecondary area, ethnic and cultural studies teachers had a median pay of $85,020 a year in May 2025[1], well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[2]. The typical entry requirement is a doctoral or professional degree[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.7%[5]
Openings per year
1,000[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[3]

How much do area, ethnic and cultural studies teachers make?

In May 2025 the median wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary was $85,020 a year[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $98,330[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $52,070 a year, and the 90th percentile was $160,420[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8]. It publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[9].

Measure Annual
10th percentile[4] $52,070
25th percentile[4] $65,660
Median[1] $85,020
75th percentile[4] $110,710
90th percentile[4] $160,420

These figures cover about 11,300 wage and salary jobs[10]. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[11].

Pay by state and city

New Hampshire had the highest state median at $125,450, based on 80 jobs[12]. Kansas followed at $107,120 and California at $105,220[12]. Alabama had the lowest published median at $63,090[12].

New York had the most jobs, at 1,520[13]. Texas had 830 and California had 770[13]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Ann Arbor, MI had the highest median at $106,140[14]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ was next at $103,700, then Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $102,030[14]. The New York metro area also had the most jobs, at 1,190, followed by Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at 440[15].

Show median pay in 36 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New Hampshire[12]$125,45080
Kansas$107,12090
California$105,220770
Rhode Island$104,460n/a
Maine$103,06050
New York$101,8001,520
District of Columbia$101,700230
Massachusetts$100,470610
Connecticut$99,900310
New Jersey$97,500480
Pennsylvania$96,010260
Maryland$91,330520
Illinois$90,030220
Michigan$87,840460
Virginia$85,960300
Indiana$84,970260
Utah$82,99040
Alaska$81,70080
Minnesota$81,580280
Washington$81,410240
Oregon$80,310340
Ohio$80,060390
Colorado$79,190160
Wisconsin$78,770180
Montana$78,69090
Georgia$77,630450
Oklahoma$76,60050
Wyoming$76,17040
Arizona$75,680240
Tennessee$75,06060
Kentucky$74,69090
Texas$72,250830
West Virginia$71,20040
Florida$66,520120
North Carolina$66,470590
South Carolina$64,500130
Alabama$63,09050

How to become an area, ethnic and cultural studies teacher

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training[3]. In an O*NET survey of 42 workers, 61% said a doctoral degree is required and 31% said a master's degree[16]. That is a small survey.

The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers postsecondary teachers more widely, not only this group[17].

Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree, though some prefer a Ph.D.[20]. Some teachers build experience as graduate teaching assistants[21]. Teachers with a doctorate often seek tenure, which may take up to 7 years[22].

What area, ethnic and cultural studies teachers do

These teachers teach courses on the culture and development of an area or group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies or urban affairs[23]. Some mainly teach, and others combine teaching with research[23]. Tasks listed by O*NET include:

Workers report titles such as assistant professor, ethnic studies professor and lecturer[25].

Where they work

This section draws on the wider BLS profile for postsecondary teachers[17]. Colleges, universities and professional schools run by states were the largest employers, at 41%[26]. Most postsecondary teachers work full time, though part-time work is common[27]. Courses are generally held during the day, with some in evenings or weekends[28].

Schedules are generally flexible. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours but otherwise set their own schedules[29]. Academic calendars include breaks between terms, and some teachers use that time for research[30]. BLS also notes that balancing teaching with research and publishing can be stressful, especially for beginning teachers seeking advancement[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 14,300 to 14,700 jobs[5]. That is a little slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[32]. About 1,000 openings are projected each year[6]. Openings include jobs that come from workers retiring or changing occupations, as well as new jobs[6].

Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[33].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a well-paid field with a long road in. Median pay is well above the all-occupation median[1][2], but the typical entry requirement is a doctoral or professional degree[3], and doctoral programs usually take several years[18]. Growth is projected slightly below the all-occupation rate[5][32]. The facts here do not cover tuition or how hard it is to find a position, so look into those before deciding.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much do area, ethnic and cultural studies professors make?
The median was $85,020 a year in May 2025, and the average was $98,330[1][7]. BLS publishes no hourly wage for this job[9].
What degree do you need to teach area, ethnic and cultural studies in college?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[3]. Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree[20].
Is this teaching field in demand?
BLS projects 2.7% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 1,000 openings a year[5][32][6].
What is the highest paying state for these teachers?
New Hampshire had the highest median at $125,450, based on 80 jobs, followed by Kansas at $107,120[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $85,020 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $52,070, 25th percentile $65,660, 75th percentile $110,710, 90th percentile $160,420. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 14,300 to 14,700 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,000 openings for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary was $98,330 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS publishes only annual wages for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 11,300 people were employed as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York 1,520; Texas 830; California 770; Massachusetts 610; North Carolina 590. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Ann Arbor, MI $106,140; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $103,700; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $102,030; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $101,700; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $101,180; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $100,760; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $100,140; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $97,200. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,190 (median $103,700); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 440 (median $100,140); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 360 (median $101,700); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 310 (median $102,030); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 300 (median $80,980); Ann Arbor, MI 240 (median $106,140). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 25-1062.00 survey of workers (42 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 61%, Master's Degree 31% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 25-1062.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Adjunct Professor, American Studies Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Black Studies Professor, Ethnic Studies Professor, Humanities Professor, Lecturer. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.