Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Pittsburgh
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 Pittsburgh, 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.
#49. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Annual mean salary: $29,640
- #277 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)
#48. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $29,990
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,630
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)
#47. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $35,060
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,010
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)
#46. Library technicians
- Annual mean salary: $36,720
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)
#45. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $37,820
- #289 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,920
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)
#44. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $42,590
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
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)
#43. Tutors
- Annual mean salary: $44,560
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
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)
#42. Archivists
- Annual mean salary: $49,610
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#41. Museum technicians and conservators
- Annual mean salary: $53,580
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#40. Curators
- Annual mean salary: $58,580
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#39. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Annual mean salary: $58,790
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#38. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Annual mean salary: $60,850
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950
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)
#37. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $61,060
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800
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)
#36. Special education teachers, preschool
- Annual mean salary: $61,620
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#35. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Annual mean salary: $64,350
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790
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)
#34. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $65,860
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
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)
#33. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $68,840
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,460
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)
#32. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $69,480
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
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)
#31. Instructional coordinators
- Annual mean salary: $71,760
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920
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)
#30. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $72,370
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
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)
#29. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $73,990
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,710
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)
#28. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $74,670
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#27. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $75,290
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,070
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)
#26. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $75,830
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#25. Special education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $75,910
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
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)
#24. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $78,090
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)
#23. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $80,540
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
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)
#22. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $80,610
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
#21. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $82,590
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,040
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)
#20. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $82,890
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)
#19. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $83,620
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
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)
#18. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $84,760
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
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)
#17. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $84,800
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
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)
#16. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $85,220
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#15. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $85,910
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#14. Career/technical education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $86,480
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)
#13. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $86,720
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)
#12. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $87,960
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670
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)
#11. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
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)
#10. History teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $92,660
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)
#9. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $92,920
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#8. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $93,220
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#7. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $96,560
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#6. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $106,240
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)
#5. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $106,560
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#4. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $108,220
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
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)
#3. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $108,790
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#2. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $122,690
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800
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)
#1. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $129,650
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)