Professors may teach a variety of subjects, such as history, science, or business.
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.
Duties
Postsecondary teachers typically do the following:
Develop an instructional plan (known as a course outline or syllabus) for the course(s) they teach and ensure that it meets college and department standards
Plan lessons and assignments
Teach courses in their subject area
Assess students’ progress by grading assignments, papers, exams, and other work
Advise students about which courses to take and how to achieve their goals
Work with colleagues to develop or modify the curriculum for a degree or certificate program involving in-person, online, or hybrid delivery of course material
Stay informed about changes and innovations in their field
Serve on academic or administrative committees, as needed
Postsecondary teachers, often referred to as professors or faculty, specialize in a variety of subjects and fields. At colleges and universities, professors are organized into departments by degree field, such as history, science, or business. A professor may teach one or more courses within that department. For example, a mathematics professor may teach calculus, statistics, and a graduate seminar on a topic related to polynomials.
Postsecondary teachers’ duties vary, often based on the size of their employing institution. In large colleges or universities, they may teach courses, conduct research or experiments, publish original research, apply for grants to fund their research, or supervise graduate teaching assistants. In small colleges and universities or in community colleges, they may spend most of their time teaching courses and working with students.
Full-time professors, particularly those who have tenure (that is, they cannot be fired without just cause), often are expected to devote a great deal of time on original research. Tenured professors must document their analyses or critical reviews and publish their research findings. They also may be expected to serve on college and university committees.
Part-time professors, often known as adjunct professors, usually spend most of their time teaching students.
Professors may teach large classes of several hundred students (often with the help of graduate teaching assistants), smaller classes of about 40 to 50 students, seminars with a few students, or laboratories in which students practice the subject matter. Some teach online, either exclusively or in addition to providing live instruction.
Professors’ tasks also may include collaborating with their colleagues and attending conferences to keep up with developments in their field.
Information about postsecondary teachers who provide vocational training in subjects such as repair, transportation, and cosmetology is available in the profile on career and technical education teachers.
Most classes are held during the day, but some are held on nights and weekends.
Postsecondary teachers held about 1.3 million jobs in 2021. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up postsecondary teachers was distributed as follows:
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
246,700
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
121,800
Business teachers, postsecondary
103,400
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
87,000
Education teachers, postsecondary
76,700
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
72,400
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
60,200
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
53,800
Computer science teachers, postsecondary
47,800
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
46,400
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
45,800
Communications teachers, postsecondary
34,400
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
28,200
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
25,800
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
25,000
History teachers, postsecondary
23,700
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
19,400
Law teachers, postsecondary
19,100
Political science teachers, postsecondary
18,200
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
17,100
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
16,500
Social work teachers, postsecondary
16,100
Physics teachers, postsecondary
16,000
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
16,000
Economics teachers, postsecondary
15,300
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
12,700
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
11,700
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
10,900
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
7,800
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
7,100
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
6,400
Library science teachers, postsecondary
5,500
Geography teachers, postsecondary
4,300
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
3,400
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
1,500
The largest employers of postsecondary teachers were as follows:
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private
39%
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state
39
Junior colleges; local
10
Junior colleges; state
6
Postsecondary teachers often find it rewarding to share their expertise with students and colleagues. However, it may be stressful, especially for beginning teachers seeking advancement, to balance teaching duties with an emphasis on research and publication. At the community college level, professors are more likely to focus on teaching students.
Work Schedules
Most postsecondary teachers work full time, although part-time work is common. Postsecondary teachers who work part time may offer instruction at several colleges or universities. Some have a full-time job in their field of expertise in addition to a part-time teaching position. For example, an active lawyer or judge might teach an evening course at a law school.
College and university courses are generally during the day, although some are offered in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate students who have jobs or other obligations.
Academic calendars typically include breaks, such as between terms. The availability and type of course offerings during the summer vary by institution. Although some postsecondary teachers provide instruction in summer courses, others use the time to conduct research or engage in professional development.
Postsecondary teachers’ schedules generally are flexible. Full-time teachers typically need to be on campus to teach classes and have office hours but otherwise are free to set their own schedules.
Institutions may prefer to hire those with teaching or other work experience.
Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in their field. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges. Other postsecondary teachers may need work experience in their field of expertise.
Education
Postsecondary teachers who work for 4-year colleges and universities typically need a Ph.D. or other doctorate in their field of degree. For some specialties or for part-time positions, schools may hire those with a master’s degree or who are doctoral degree candidates.
Doctoral programs usually take several years to complete, and students typically need a bachelor’s or master’s degree to enroll. Most Ph.D. programs require students to write a doctoral dissertation, a paper presenting original research in their field of study, which they then defend in questioning from experts. Candidates usually specialize in a subfield, such as organic chemistry or European history.
Community colleges may hire those with a master’s degree. However, some institutions prefer that applicants have a Ph.D.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Institutions may prefer to hire those with teaching or other work experience.
In some fields, such as health specialties, art, law, and education, hands-on work experience is especially important. Postsecondary teachers in these fields often gain experience by working in an occupation related to their field of study.
In other fields, such as biological science, physics, and chemistry, some postsecondary teachers have postdoctoral research experience. Sometimes called a “post-doc,” this experience takes the form of a job that usually involves working for 2 to 3 years as a research associate or in a similar position, often at a college or university.
Some postsecondary teachers gain teaching experience by working as graduate teaching assistants—students who are enrolled in a graduate program and teach classes at the institution in which they are enrolled.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Postsecondary teachers who prepare students for an occupation that requires a license, certification, or registration, may need to have—or may benefit from having—the same credential. For example, a postsecondary nursing teacher might need a nursing license or a postsecondary education teacher might need a teaching license.
Advancement
Postsecondary teachers with a doctoral degree often seek tenure—a guarantee that a professor cannot be fired without just cause. Attaining tenure may take up to 7 years of progressing through the positions by rank: assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. The decision to grant tenure is based on a candidate’s research, contribution to the institution, and teaching.
Some professors advance to high-level administrative positions, such as dean or president. For information on deans and other administrative positions, see the profile on postsecondary education administrators. For more information about college and university presidents, see the profile on top executives.
Important Qualities
Critical-thinking skills. To conduct original research and design experiments, postsecondary teachers need to analyze information logically.
Interpersonal skills. Postsecondary teachers need to work well with others for tasks such as instructing students and serving on committees.
Resourcefulness. Postsecondary teachers must be able to present information in a way that students will understand. They need to adapt to the different learning styles of their students and be able to use technology for lessons or assignments.
Speaking skills. Postsecondary teachers need good communication skills to present lectures and provide feedback to students.
Writing skills. Postsecondary teachers need strong writing ability to publish original research and analysis.
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
The median annual wage for postsecondary teachers was $79,640 in May 2021.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,690, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $172,130.
Median annual wages for postsecondary teachers in May 2021 were as follows:
Law teachers, postsecondary
$123,470
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
104,940
Economics teachers, postsecondary
104,940
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
102,720
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
98,070
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
97,340
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
95,910
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
95,160
Business teachers, postsecondary
94,360
Physics teachers, postsecondary
93,070
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
82,330
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
81,980
Political science teachers, postsecondary
81,980
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
81,440
Geography teachers, postsecondary
81,440
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
79,630
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
79,410
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
78,910
History teachers, postsecondary
78,130
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
77,980
Computer science teachers, postsecondary
77,910
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
77,860
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
77,610
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
77,580
Communications teachers, postsecondary
77,560
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
77,500
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
77,440
Library science teachers, postsecondary
77,100
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
77,030
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
75,940
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
75,930
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
72,440
Social work teachers, postsecondary
71,010
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
64,600
Education teachers, postsecondary
63,910
In May 2021, the median annual wages for postsecondary teachers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state
$81,250
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private
79,820
Junior colleges; local
79,810
Junior colleges; state
63,590
Wages vary by institution type. Postsecondary teachers typically have higher wages in colleges, universities, and professional schools than they do in community colleges or other types of schools.
Most postsecondary teachers work full time, although part-time work is common. Postsecondary teachers who work part time may offer instruction at several colleges or universities. Some have a full-time job in their field of expertise in addition to a part-time teaching position. For example, an active lawyer or judge might teach an evening course at a law school.
College and university courses are generally during the day, although some are offered in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate students who have jobs or other obligations.
Academic calendars typically include breaks, such as between terms. The availability and type of course offerings during the summer vary by institution. Although some postsecondary teachers provide instruction in summer courses, others use the time to conduct research or engage in professional development.
Postsecondary teachers’ schedules generally are flexible. Full-time teachers typically need to be on campus to teach classes and have office hours but otherwise are free to set their own schedules.
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 132,600 openings for postsecondary teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Projected employment of postsecondary teachers varies by occupation (see table). Both part-time and full-time postsecondary teachers are included in these projections.
The number of people attending postsecondary institutions is expected to grow over the projections decade. Students will continue to seek higher education to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to meet their career goals. As more people enter colleges and universities, more postsecondary teachers will be needed to serve these additional students. Colleges and universities are likely to hire more part-time teachers to meet this demand. In all disciplines, there is expected to be a limited number of full-time nontenure and full-time tenure positions.
A growing number of older people, who are more likely than young people to need medical care, will create increased demand for healthcare. More postsecondary teachers are expected to be needed to help educate workers who provide healthcare services.
However, despite expected increases in enrollment, employment growth in public colleges and universities will depend on state and local government budgets. If budgets for higher education are reduced, employment growth may be limited.
Employment projections data for postsecondary teachers, 2021-31
Occupational Title
SOC Code
Employment, 2021
Projected Employment, 2031
Change, 2021-31
Employment by Industry
Percent
Numeric
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program