Instructor Salaries
How much does an Instructor make?
Total pay range
$67K - $121K/yr
$89K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$58K - $104K/yrBase pay
$9K - $17K/yrAdditional pay
About our data
Confident
The “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. Glassdoor salaries are powered by our proprietary machine learning model, which utilizes salaries collected from our users and the latest government data to make pay predictions.
How accurate is a total pay range of $67K-$121K/yr?
Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.
Popular companies for Instructors
8,812 companies
8,812 Popular companies with Instructor
Viewing 1 - 5 of 8812 Results
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for an Instructor in United States are Information Technology with a median total pay of $110,644, Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $110,276, Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $107,432, Financial Services with a median total pay of $101,166, and Transportation & Logistics with a median total pay of $96,214.
Top paying companies in Aerospace & Defense for Instructor are Lockheed Martin, CACI International, and Cubic.
Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Instructor are SLB, Talen Energy, and Con Edison.
Top paying companies in Financial Services for Instructor are Ruesch International and ID Tech.
Top paying companies in Transportation & Logistics for Instructor are United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines.
Information Technology
$110,644
Information Technology
Aerospace & Defense
$110,276
Information Technology
Energy, Mining & Utilities
$107,432
Information Technology
Financial Services
$101,166
Information Technology
Transportation & Logistics
$96,214
Recent salaries shared by Instructor
50 salaries
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Instructor
15+ years
$88K/yr
$88K • $0
Dallas, TX
submitted on Jun 1, 2026
$88K/yr
$88K • $0
Instructor
4-6 years
$68K - $79K/yr
Brea, CA
submitted on Jun 1, 2026
$68K - $79K/yr
Instructor
10-14 years
$112K/yr
$112K • $0
Folsom, CA
submitted on Jun 1, 2026
$112K/yr
$112K • $0
Instructor
1-3 years
$79K - $92K/yr
Poughkeepsie, NY
submitted on Jun 1, 2026
$79K - $92K/yr
Instructor
4-6 years
$31K/yr
$31K • $0
Houston, TX
submitted on May 31, 2026
$31K/yr
$31K • $0
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Instructor
1-3 years
$64K/yr
$64K • $0
New York, NY
submitted on May 31, 2026
$64K/yr
$64K • $0
Instructor
1-3 years
$26K/yr
$26K • $0
Virginia Beach, VA
submitted on May 30, 2026
$26K/yr
$26K • $0
Instructor
1-3 years
$26K - $30K/yr
Orlando, FL
submitted on May 30, 2026
$26K - $30K/yr
Instructor
1-3 years
$35K/yr
$35K • $0
Mount Laurel, NJ
submitted on May 29, 2026
$35K/yr
$35K • $0
Instructor
7-9 years
$26K - $30K/yr
Camp Pendleton, CA
submitted on May 29, 2026
$26K - $30K/yr
Viewing 1 - 10 of 50
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Education?
Job growth in education remains steady, with modest growth in salaries and greater opportunities for workers with STEM specialization or those with advanced degrees. Opportunities are likely to persist with the projected rise in student enrollment in the coming years. Jobs are often reliant upon state and local budgets with public sector benefits being an attractive feature for many job-seekers.Show more
Instructor salary in US
A Instructor salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Instructor in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $39,525 to $98,317 per year, based on 5 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Instructor in US can make a salary range of $41,650 to $121,783 with at least 2 years of experience, based on 113 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Instructor gets the highest compensation are Santa Monica College, Legal Heat and Delaware Technical & Community College. Bigger companies typically pay 20.56% less than smaller companies for a Instructor.Show more
Frequently asked questions about Instructor salaries
How much does an Instructor in United States make?
The average salary for an Instructor is $89,309 per year or $43 per hour in United States, which is in line with the national average. Top earners have reported making up to $157,547 (90th percentile). However, the typical pay range in United States is between $66,982 (25th percentile) and $120,724 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 34576 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Instructor employees in United States as of June 2026.
What is the highest salary for an Instructor in United States?
The highest salary for an Instructor in United States is $120,724 per year, $10,060 per month or $58 per hour.
What is the lowest salary for an Instructor in United States?
The lowest salary for an Instructor in United States is $66,982 per year, $5,582 per month or $32 per hour.
What is the salary trajectory of an Instructor?
The salary trajectory of an Instructor ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $72,065 per year (estimate) and goes up to $127,645 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
What is the Salary Trend for Instructors?
Universities generally provide full-time instructors with comfortable salaries, although the candidates could earn even more in non-academic positions. Instructors enjoy many non-monetary perks including intellectually stimulating work, free coursework at their universities, highly accomplished colleagues and the freedom to self-manage. Instructors with greater teaching or industry work experience, as well as those who teach at private and prestigious institutions that charge higher tuition, typically earn higher salaries. Additionally, pay may be higher for instructors with relevant industry certifications including a Certified Public Accountant or Registered Nurse license.
Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research
Do Instructors Make Good Money in United States?
Glassdoor's ratings reveal how instructors feel about their jobs, including personal salary satisfaction. Among instructors, that percentage stands at 64%. Instructors can potentially earn $12,200.35 every year through bonuses and profit sharing, and they have benefits in the role such as education reimbursement, paid vacation, and job flexibility.
How Much Does an Instructor Make Over Time in United States?
If you're considering following an instructor career path, your salary will generally fall between $51,799.14 and $157,547.12. The average professional earns an instructor salary of $77,108.51. Experience level is one of the primary factors that affects salary for instructors, but membership in a professional organization and an advanced degree can also bolster your annual income.
How to Make More Money as an Instructor
Membership in a professional organization, such as the National Education Association or the International Literary Association, opens the door to helpful career resources and opportunities to expand your professional network, scoring you future references and opportunities for high-paying positions. Your salary as an instructor will increase as you gain experience, so seek out openings for remote roles, private tutoring, substitute, or part-time positions; each of these stands out on a resume and helps you advance in your career path. A master's degree in education (or your chosen subject area) makes you eligible for a higher instructor salary, and positive references from co-workers and students also factor into your annual earnings.
How to Negotiate a Higher Salary as an Instructor
Before you negotiate for a higher salary as an instructor, explore common interview questions that are frequently asked for instructor roles. "What is your teaching approach?" "How do you handle difficult students?" and "How do you keep students engaged?" are all frequently asked questions you'll need solid answers for, so arrive to the negotiating table prepared with solid answers and a salary number in mind. For established instructor positions, that number usually falls within a pre-determined range, but many employers will negotiate the compensation package if you've provided them with value during your tenure, awarding benefits such as increased PTO, tuition reimbursement, new equipment/supplies, and sign-on and performance-based bonuses.