How much does a art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary make?
The median art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary in the United States earns $78,620 per year. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-1121.
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary salary range
Pay for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $47,570 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $163,350. The average (mean) wage of $94,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,570 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $61,620 | |
| Median (50th) | $78,620 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $103,850 | |
| 90th percentile | $163,350 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1121), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn the most in Delaware at $103,320 a year, and the least in Nevada at $52,870. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $103,320 | 150 |
| California | $99,410 | 9,820 |
| New York | $98,850 | 14,920 |
| Vermont | $97,980 | 180 |
| Rhode Island | $97,580 | 440 |
| District of Columbia | $96,900 | 350 |
| Massachusetts | $85,820 | 4,960 |
| Maryland | $85,590 | 1,280 |
| Michigan | $82,990 | 2,410 |
| New Jersey | $80,100 | 3,300 |
| Georgia | $79,870 | 1,910 |
| Maine | $79,860 | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $79,090 | 440 |
| Louisiana | $78,710 | 720 |
| Connecticut | $78,600 | 1,430 |
| Montana | $78,420 | 190 |
| Ohio | $78,050 | 3,940 |
| Washington | $77,950 | 1,400 |
| Minnesota | $77,760 | 1,310 |
| Iowa | $77,740 | 910 |
| Texas | $77,560 | 6,730 |
| Wisconsin | $77,560 | 1,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,280 | 4,170 |
| Oregon | $76,770 | 1,440 |
| New Mexico | $76,240 | 380 |
| Indiana | $76,050 | 1,920 |
| Missouri | $75,960 | 1,450 |
| Nebraska | $75,200 | 490 |
| Virginia | $74,870 | 2,840 |
| North Carolina | $73,800 | 2,880 |
| West Virginia | $73,280 | 340 |
| Idaho | $72,300 | 250 |
| Arizona | $72,060 | 1,040 |
| Tennessee | $72,030 | 1,370 |
| Colorado | $70,060 | 1,950 |
| North Dakota | $67,190 | 130 |
| Utah | $66,220 | 790 |
| Kentucky | $64,440 | 900 |
| Florida | $63,820 | 2,490 |
| Alabama | $63,540 | 900 |
| South Dakota | $63,380 | 200 |
| Illinois | $62,960 | 4,170 |
| South Carolina | $62,420 | 1,290 |
| Oklahoma | $62,200 | 760 |
| Kansas | $61,260 | 640 |
| Arkansas | $60,650 | 360 |
| Mississippi | $60,580 | 540 |
| Wyoming | $59,190 | 180 |
| Nevada | $52,870 | 260 |
State median wages for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1121), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
The BLS projects employment of art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 116,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 119,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 8,000 openings a year for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
The typical entry-level education for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary is a master's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Delaware, $103,320) and the lowest (Nevada, $52,870) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 93,560 people work as art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary in the United States. At $78,620 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary salary FAQ
How much does an art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary make an hour?
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary are generally salaried rather than paid by the hour, so the BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job. The median annual salary is $78,620.
What is the highest art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn more than $163,350 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary make a year?
The median annual salary for an art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary is $78,620. The average (mean) wage of $94,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary a well paid job?
At $78,620 a year, an art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 93,560 people work as art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary in the United States.
Which state pays art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary the most?
Delaware has the highest median salary for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary at $103,320 a year. California ($99,410) and New York ($98,850) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary a good career?
Employment of art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary is projected to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 8,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary as a master's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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