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Chemistry teacher (college): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$93,250median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $57,870lowest 10% earn less
  2. $68,53025th percentile
  3. $93,250median
  4. $127,28075th percentile
  5. $172,110top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Postsecondary chemistry teachers had a median pay of $93,250 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.3%[2]
Openings per year
1,700[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[7]

How much do chemistry teachers make?

This page covers college and university chemistry teachers, which BLS calls Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary. Their median wage was $93,250 a year[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was higher, at $105,210 a year[8]. For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[9].

Here is how annual pay was spread out[4]:

Point Annual wage
10th percentile[4] $57,870
25th percentile[4] $68,530
Median[1] $93,250
75th percentile[4] $127,280
90th percentile[4] $172,110

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $57,870[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[11].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest median annual wage among states, at $132,960[12]. North Dakota came next at $111,020, then Massachusetts at $108,270[12]. Oklahoma was the lowest on the list at $64,450[12].

By metro area, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA had the highest median at $156,430[13]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA followed at $141,370, then San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at $138,300[13]. This list only includes areas with at least 100 jobs[13].

The most jobs were in New York (1,840), California (1,650), Texas (1,470), Pennsylvania (1,270) and North Carolina (900)[14]. Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most jobs, at 1,580, followed by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin at 620[15].

Show median pay in 47 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$132,9601,650
North Dakota$111,02060
Massachusetts$108,270820
Delaware$104,61080
Minnesota$104,380430
Arizona$103,790210
District of Columbia$103,370100
New Hampshire$102,22070
Utah$102,110200
Nevada$101,64060
Maryland$101,530310
Oregon$101,350460
Michigan$101,030560
Rhode Island$100,920110
New York$99,8801,840
Illinois$97,860880
Colorado$96,600330
Pennsylvania$95,0701,270
Kansas$93,830170
Washington$85,970390
Georgia$85,300500
Maine$85,25070
New Mexico$85,24080
Nebraska$85,050150
Montana$84,68080
Louisiana$83,680140
Wisconsin$83,480450
Missouri$83,000460
Wyoming$82,83030
Kentucky$82,550250
Iowa$82,050230
West Virginia$81,83090
Texas$81,8101,470
New Jersey$81,600750
Indiana$81,530530
South Carolina$81,200270
Virginia$80,330760
Tennessee$79,150370
Connecticut$78,820350
North Carolina$78,620900
Vermont$78,56090
Ohio$77,910700
Florida$77,630340
Alabama$76,430310
South Dakota$75,81070
Mississippi$66,420130
Arkansas$64,720110
Oklahoma$64,450220

How to become a chemistry teacher

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[7]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers postsecondary teachers as a wider group, not only chemistry[16].

The profile says four-year colleges and universities typically want a doctorate[20]. For some specialties or part-time roles, schools may hire someone with a master's degree or a doctoral candidate[20]. Community colleges may accept a master's degree, though some prefer a Ph.D.[21].

In an O*NET survey of 34 chemistry teachers, 35% said a master's degree was required, 31% said post-doctoral training and 25% said a doctoral degree[22]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

Teachers with a doctorate often seek tenure, which protects a professor from being fired without just cause. It may take up to 7 years of moving through the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor and professor[23].

What chemistry teachers do

O*NET describes the job as teaching courses on the chemical and physical properties of substances and how they change. Some teachers mainly teach, and others combine teaching with research[24]. Typical tasks include[25]:

Where they work

This section also draws on the wider postsecondary teachers profile[16]. Most postsecondary teachers work full time, though part-time work is common[26]. Courses are generally held during the day, with some in the evening or on weekends[27]. Schedules are generally flexible. Full-time teachers typically need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours, but otherwise set their own schedules[28]. Academic calendars usually include breaks between terms, and some teachers use summers for research or professional development[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 24,900 to 25,400 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 1,700 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings come from workers who leave as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[30].

The OEWS count of 19,980 wage and salary jobs[31] and the projection count are different measures, so they do not match.

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with pay well above the all-occupations median[1][5] and a long road in, since a doctoral degree is the typical entry requirement[7] and doctoral programs usually take several years[17]. Growth is a little slower than for all occupations[2][3], with about 1,700 openings a year[6]. Pay also varies a lot, from $57,870 at the 10th percentile to $172,110 at the 90th[4]. Our facts do not cover program costs or how hard it is to land a position, so check those before you commit.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a college chemistry teacher make?
The median annual wage for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary was $93,250 in May 2025[1]. BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job[9].
What degree do you need to be a chemistry teacher at a college?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[7]. A master's degree may be enough at some community colleges[21].
How long does it take to become a college chemistry teacher?
Doctoral programs usually take several years[17], and some chemistry teachers also do a postdoc of about 2 to 3 years[18]. Our facts do not give a total.
Is chemistry teaching in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 1,700 openings are projected each year[6].
Which state pays chemistry teachers the most?
California had the highest median annual wage, at $132,960[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $93,250 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 24,900 to 25,400 jobs (a change of +600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $57,870, 25th percentile $68,530, 75th percentile $127,280, 90th percentile $172,110. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,700 openings for Chemistry 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 Employment Projections, typical path into Chemistry 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
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary was $105,210 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS publishes only annual wages for Chemistry 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 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
  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 Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $156,430; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $141,370; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $138,300; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $137,440; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $132,590; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $131,080; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $130,340; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $123,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York 1,840; California 1,650; Texas 1,470; Pennsylvania 1,270; North Carolina 900. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,580 (median $99,980); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 620 (median $100,560); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 560 (median $141,370); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 530 (median $123,250); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 500 (median $99,230); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 360 (median $99,650). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. 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: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 25-1052.00 survey of workers (34 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 35%, Post-Doctoral Training 31%, Doctoral Degree 25%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. 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. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 19,980 people were employed as Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  32. 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.