Highest and lowest paying education jobs in New York City
Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it's fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there's room to specialize and pursue your passion.
Historically, teachers' pay is a rather contentious topic. The average teacher salary is about $2,000 less than a decade ago after adjusting for inflation. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying education jobs in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest and lowest paying education jobs in your city.
#58. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $35,530
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 104,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,760
- Employment: 1,187,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)
#57. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Annual mean salary: $38,100
- #127 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 31,010
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,410
- Employment: 374,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Prescott, AZ ($64,310)
--- Appleton, WI ($63,310)
--- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($58,770)
#56. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $45,300
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 27,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 391,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
--- Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)
#55. Library technicians
- Annual mean salary: $46,700
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,070
- Employment: 73,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($61,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,950)
--- Napa, CA ($57,890)
#54. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $52,630
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 121,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Arecibo, PR ($62,080)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($59,380)
#53. Tutors
- Annual mean salary: $56,420
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,670
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,780
- Employment: 147,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Pittsfield, MA ($82,910)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($68,440)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($60,110)
#52. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $70,350
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 27,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,230
- Employment: 216,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)
#51. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Annual mean salary: $75,390
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,840
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,650
- Employment: 38,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($96,640)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,740)
#50. Archivists
- Annual mean salary: $75,800
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 6,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($84,080)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($79,270)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,800)
#49. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $77,310
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,530
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,130
- Employment: 105,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($116,850)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($97,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,200)
#48. Instructional coordinators
- Annual mean salary: $78,780
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 18,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,560
- Employment: 184,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($93,890)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($93,760)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,430)
#47. Museum technicians and conservators
- Annual mean salary: $79,670
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,030
- Employment: 10,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,670)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,740)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($68,180)
#46. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Annual mean salary: $80,540
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,550
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,180
- Employment: 127,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,990)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($89,220)
#45. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $82,360
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,810
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,490
- Employment: 120,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($95,420)
--- Kingston, NY ($92,160)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,490)
#44. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Annual mean salary: $83,950
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,690
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 187,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($102,210)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,730)
--- Chico, CA ($88,430)
#43. Farm and home management educators
- Annual mean salary: $84,450
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,040
- Employment: 10,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Roanoke, VA ($109,110)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($93,140)
--- Richmond, VA ($92,090)
#42. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $88,710
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 92,450
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- Employment: 1,329,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,860)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,430)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,280)
#41. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $92,190
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 42,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,880
- Employment: 592,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($109,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,280)
--- Yuba City, CA ($94,480)
#40. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $93,110
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,700
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,100
- Employment: 145,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($110,320)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($106,590)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($103,540)
#39. Special education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $94,140
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,670
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 79,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,940)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($94,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($94,140)
#38. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $94,960
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 75,550
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,530
- Employment: 1,020,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,010)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($101,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,490)
#37. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $95,400
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,960
- Employment: 84,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,490)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($115,060)
#36. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $96,960
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 960
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,730
- Employment: 13,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($161,540)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($152,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($132,020)
#35. Curators
- Annual mean salary: $96,990
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,880
- Employment: 11,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,680)
#34. Career/technical education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $97,750
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,410
- Employment: 11,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($139,720)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,750)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,790)
#33. Special education teachers, preschool
- Annual mean salary: $100,010
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,150
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,970
- Employment: 21,130
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($101,190)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($100,010)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($97,900)
#32. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $100,970
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,760
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,040
- Employment: 68,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($146,700)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($109,450)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,310)
#31. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $102,000
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,080
- Employment: 13,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($136,830)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($123,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,590)
#30. Library science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $102,320
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,850
- Employment: 4,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($154,890)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($104,810)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($102,320)
#29. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $102,540
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,990
- Employment: 19,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,170)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($130,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($129,250)
#28. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $103,110
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,260
- Employment: 20,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($147,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,190)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,730)
#27. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $106,460
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,850
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,650
- Employment: 12,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($112,000)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($106,460)
--- Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA ($96,040)
#26. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $106,640
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,900
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,580
- Employment: 27,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,400)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($127,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,320)
#25. History teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $108,120
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,460
- Employment: 18,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($148,420)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($129,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,560)
#24. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $108,510
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,890
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,680
- Employment: 58,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($162,660)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,980)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($132,320)
#23. Geography teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $109,680
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,150
- Employment: 3,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,200)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($116,120)
#22. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $111,290
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,440
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,390
- Employment: 36,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($141,130)
--- Iowa City, IA ($131,770)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($117,020)
#21. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $112,130
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,930
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,990
- Employment: 58,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,140)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($112,130)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($110,160)
#20. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $112,600
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,010
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,610
- Employment: 37,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($152,280)
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($145,360)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($144,170)
#19. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $114,370
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,880
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,240
- Employment: 94,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($180,910)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($160,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($151,060)
#18. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $114,450
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,230
- Employment: 2,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,890)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($140,800)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($139,060)
#17. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $115,420
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $94,060
- Employment: 20,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,550)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,870)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($135,160)
#16. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $115,570
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,210
- Employment: 5,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($133,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($126,820)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($120,840)
#15. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $116,580
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,230
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,980
- Employment: 44,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,340)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($149,220)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($138,090)
#14. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $117,700
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,400
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,680
- Employment: 9,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($160,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($137,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,510)
#13. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $119,830
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,850
- Employment: 12,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,100)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($139,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($119,830)
#12. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $120,010
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,480
- Employment: 12,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,140)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,580)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,450)
#11. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $120,370
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,840
- Employment: 10,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,120)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($147,770)
#10. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $121,470
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,560
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,710
- Employment: 47,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($181,560)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($166,470)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,140)
#9. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $126,200
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,220
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,720
- Employment: 79,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)
#8. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $127,760
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,110
- Employment: 5,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,530)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($128,760)
#7. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $129,840
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,320
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,980
- Employment: 14,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($155,350)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($150,290)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($140,340)
#6. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $131,040
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,520
- Employment: 8,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,040)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($114,930)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($105,250)
#5. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $131,820
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,730
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,590
- Employment: 35,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($157,030)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,050)
#4. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $137,380
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)
#3. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $142,180
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,600
- Employment: 5,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($155,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,550)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($142,180)
#2. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $144,440
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,250
National
- Annual mean salary: $130,820
- Employment: 14,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($165,990)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($152,750)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($152,190)
#1. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $145,270
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,470
National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)