How much does a communications teacher make?
The median communications teacher in the United States earns $78,580 per year. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all communications teachers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-1122.
Communications teacher salary range
Pay for communications teachers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $47,590 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $143,720. The average (mean) wage of $90,010 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 | $47,590 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $61,250 | |
| Median (50th) | $78,580 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $102,450 | |
| 90th percentile | $143,720 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for communications teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1122), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Communications teacher salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Communications teachers earn the most in California at $135,000 a year, and the least in New Mexico at $49,880. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $135,000 | 3,140 |
| Delaware | $100,260 | 60 |
| Oregon | $98,900 | 490 |
| Connecticut | $97,210 | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $95,910 | 110 |
| New Hampshire | $95,760 | 40 |
| Michigan | $87,670 | 630 |
| New York | $84,690 | 2,490 |
| District of Columbia | $83,910 | 180 |
| Maryland | $83,510 | 440 |
| Minnesota | $83,380 | 450 |
| Massachusetts | $82,610 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $82,020 | 70 |
| South Carolina | $79,810 | 320 |
| Nebraska | $79,180 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $78,780 | 640 |
| Illinois | $78,150 | 1,580 |
| North Dakota | $78,120 | 50 |
| Montana | $78,110 | 60 |
| Maine | $78,000 | 60 |
| Utah | $77,950 | 180 |
| West Virginia | $77,880 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,790 | 1,530 |
| New Jersey | $77,780 | 1,380 |
| Iowa | $77,700 | 320 |
| Ohio | $77,660 | 1,390 |
| Louisiana | $77,250 | 170 |
| Texas | $77,050 | 2,880 |
| Wyoming | $76,760 | 50 |
| Vermont | $76,120 | 60 |
| Washington | $75,330 | 420 |
| Virginia | $73,750 | 790 |
| Georgia | $73,430 | 460 |
| Missouri | $71,830 | 480 |
| South Dakota | $71,300 | 80 |
| Arizona | $71,230 | 630 |
| Colorado | $69,200 | 560 |
| Oklahoma | $66,650 | 230 |
| Tennessee | $66,630 | 440 |
| North Carolina | $65,850 | 950 |
| Florida | $65,740 | 1,260 |
| Indiana | $65,390 | 670 |
| Kansas | $64,180 | 300 |
| Alabama | $63,760 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $62,380 | 470 |
| Mississippi | $61,290 | 180 |
| Arkansas | $59,810 | 140 |
| New Mexico | $49,880 | 400 |
State median wages for communications teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1122), 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 communications teachers
The BLS projects employment of communications teachers to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 35,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 36,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 2,400 openings a year for communications teachers. 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 a communications teacher
The typical entry-level education for communications teachers is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a communications teacher 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 (California, $135,000) and the lowest (New Mexico, $49,880) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 29,420 people work as communications teachers in the United States. At $78,580 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Communications teacher salary FAQ
How much does a communications teacher make an hour?
Communications teachers 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 $78,580.
What is the highest communications teacher salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of communications teachers earn more than $143,720 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a communications teacher make a year?
The median annual salary for a communications teacher is $78,580. The average (mean) wage of $90,010 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a communications teacher a well paid job?
At $78,580 a year, a communications teacher earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 29,420 people work as communications teachers in the United States.
Which state pays communications teachers the most?
California has the highest median salary for communications teachers at $135,000 a year. Delaware ($100,260) and Oregon ($98,900) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a communications teacher a good career?
Employment of communications teachers is projected to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 2,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a communications teacher?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for communications teachers as a doctoral or professional degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
Related salaries
See more in Education salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.