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What Postsecondary Teachers Do About this section

Professors may teach a wide variety of subjects, such as history, science, business, or music.

Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and career and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.

Duties

Postsecondary teachers typically do the following:

Teach courses in their subject area
Work with students who are taking classes to improve their knowledge or career skills
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
Work with colleagues to develop or modify the curriculum for a degree or certificate program involving a series of courses
Assess students’ progress by grading assignments, papers, exams, and other work
Advise students about which classes to take and how to achieve their goals
Stay informed about changes and innovations in their field

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 that specialize in a degree field, such as history, science, business, or music. A professor may teach one or more courses within that department. For example, a mathematics professor may teach calculus, statistics, and a graduate seminar in a very specific area of mathematics.

Postsecondary teachers’ duties vary with their positions in a university or college. In large colleges or universities, they may spend their time teaching, conducting research or experiments, publishing original research, applying for grants to fund their research, or supervising graduate teaching assistants who are teaching classes.

Postsecondary teachers who work in small colleges and universities or in community colleges often spend more time teaching classes and working with students. They may spend some time conducting research, but they do not have as much time to devote to it.

Full-time professors, particularly those who have tenure (a professor who cannot be fired without just cause), often are expected to spend more time on their research. They also may be expected to serve on more college and university committees.

Part-time professors, often known as adjunct professors, 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 just a few students, or laboratories where students practice the subject matter. They work with an increasingly varied student population as more part-time, older, and culturally diverse students are going to postsecondary schools.

Professors read scholarly articles, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional conferences to keep up with developments in their field. A tenured professor must do original research, document their analyses or critical reviews, and publish their findings.

Some postsecondary teachers work for online universities or teach online classes. They use the Internet to present lessons and information, to assign and accept students’ work, and to participate in course discussions. Online professors use email, phone, and video chat apps to communicate with students, and might never meet their students in person.

Work Environment About this section

Most classes are held during the day, but some are held on nights and weekends.

Postsecondary teachers held about 1.3 million jobs in 2019. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up postsecondary teachers was distributed as follows:

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	254,000
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary	116,300
Business teachers, postsecondary	105,100
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary	81,300
Education teachers, postsecondary	77,300
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary	72,900
Biological science teachers, postsecondary	64,700
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary	60,100
Psychology teachers, postsecondary	46,800
Engineering teachers, postsecondary	44,600
Computer science teachers, postsecondary	38,500
Communications teachers, postsecondary	35,600
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary	30,900
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary	30,600
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary	26,400
History teachers, postsecondary	26,000
Law teachers, postsecondary	21,300
Political science teachers, postsecondary	19,800
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other	19,300
Social work teachers, postsecondary	17,300
Physics teachers, postsecondary	17,100
Sociology teachers, postsecondary	17,000
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary	16,800
Economics teachers, postsecondary	16,800
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary	13,400
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary	13,100
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary	11,400
Architecture teachers, postsecondary	8,500
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary	7,600
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary	7,200
Library science teachers, postsecondary	5,400
Geography teachers, postsecondary	4,800
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary	2,100

The largest employers of postsecondary teachers were as follows:

Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private	40%
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state	37
Junior colleges; local	11
Junior colleges; state	6

Many postsecondary teachers find their jobs rewarding because they are surrounded by others who enjoy the subject they teach. The opportunity to share their expertise with others is appealing to many.

However, some postsecondary teachers must find a balance between teaching students and doing research and publishing their findings. This can be stressful, especially for beginning teachers seeking advancement in 4-year research universities. At the community college level, professors focus mainly on teaching students and administrative duties.

Classes are generally held during the day, although some are offered in the evenings and weekends to accommodate students who have jobs or family obligations.

Although some postsecondary teachers teach summer courses, many use that time to conduct research, involve themselves in professional development, or to travel.

Work Schedules

Many postsecondary teachers teach part time, and may teach courses at several colleges or universities. Some may 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 a law school class during the evening.

Postsecondary teachers’ schedules generally are flexible. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach classes and have office hours. Otherwise, they are free to set their schedule to prepare for classes and grade assignments. They may also spend time carrying out administrative responsibilities, such as serving on committees.

How to Become a Postsecondary Teacher About this section

Some institutions prefer to hire professors who have teaching experience, which can be gained by working as a graduate teaching assistant.

Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Typically postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. 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 doctoral degree in their field. Some schools may hire those with a master’s degree or those who are doctoral degree candidates for some specialties, such as fine arts, or for some part-time positions.

Doctoral programs generally take multiple years to complete, and students must already possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree before enrolling in a doctoral program. Doctoral students spend time writing a doctoral dissertation, which is a paper presenting original research in the student’s field of study. Candidates usually specialize in a subfield, such as organic chemistry or European history.

Community colleges or career and technical schools also may hire those with a master’s degree. However, some fields have more applicants than available positions. In these situations, institutions can be more selective, and they frequently choose applicants who have a Ph.D. over those with a master’s degree.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Some institutions may prefer to hire those with teaching or other work experience, but this is not a requirement for all fields or for all employers.

In health specialties, art, law, or education fields, hands-on work experience in the industry can be important. Postsecondary teachers in these fields often gain experience by working in an occupation related to their field of expertise.

In fields such as biological science, physics, and chemistry, some postsecondary teachers have postdoctoral research experience. These short-term jobs, sometimes called “post-docs,” usually involve 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 in 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 they 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

A major goal for postsecondary teachers with a doctoral degree is attaining a tenure—a guarantee that a professor cannot be fired without just cause. It can take up to 7 years of moving up the ranks in tenure-track positions. The ranks are assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. Tenure is granted through a review of the candidate’s research, contribution to the institution, and teaching.

Tenure and tenure-track positions are declining as institutions are relying more heavily on part-time professors.

Some tenured professors advance to 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 challenge established theories and beliefs, conduct original research, and design experiments, postsecondary teachers need to apply analyses and logic to arrive at sound conclusions.

Interpersonal skills. Most postsecondary teachers need to be able to work well with others and must have good communication skills to serve on committees and give lectures.

Resourcefulness. Postsecondary teachers need to 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 teach students who have little or no experience with the subject.

Speaking skills. Postsecondary teachers need good verbal skills to give lectures.

Writing skills. Postsecondary teachers need to be skilled writers to publish original research and analysis.

Pay About this section

Postsecondary Teachers

Median annual wages, May 2019

Postsecondary teachers: $79,540
Educational instruction and library occupations: $50,790
Total, all occupations: $39,810

The median annual wage for postsecondary teachers was $79,540 in May 2019. 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 $40,480, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $174,960.

Median annual wages for postsecondary teachers in May 2019 were as follows:

Law teachers, postsecondary	$113,530
Economics teachers, postsecondary	104,370
Engineering teachers, postsecondary	101,010
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	97,320
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary	92,040
Physics teachers, postsecondary	89,590
Architecture teachers, postsecondary	87,900
Business teachers, postsecondary	87,200
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary	86,220
Political science teachers, postsecondary	85,930
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary	85,450
Computer science teachers, postsecondary	85,180
Biological science teachers, postsecondary	83,300
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary	83,260
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary	82,430
Geography teachers, postsecondary	80,520
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary	79,550
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary	77,070
Psychology teachers, postsecondary	76,620
Sociology teachers, postsecondary	75,290
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary	75,240
History teachers, postsecondary	75,170
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary	74,600
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary	73,690
Social work teachers, postsecondary	72,070
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other	71,530
Library science teachers, postsecondary	71,410
Communications teachers, postsecondary	70,630
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary	69,990
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary	69,530
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary	68,490
Education teachers, postsecondary	65,510
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary	62,860

In May 2019, the median annual wages for postsecondary teachers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Junior colleges; local	$82,850
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state	80,960
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private	80,760
Junior colleges; state	61,430

Wages can 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.

Many postsecondary teachers work part time. They may work part time at several colleges or universities, or have a full-time job in their field of expertise in addition to a part-time teaching position.

Job Outlook About this section

Postsecondary Teachers

Percent change in employment, projected 2019-29

Postsecondary teachers: 9%
Educational instruction and library occupations: 5%
Total, all occupations: 4%

Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Both part-time and full-time postsecondary teachers are included in this projection.

The number of people attending postsecondary institutions is expected to grow in the next decade. Students will continue to seek higher education to gain the additional education 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.

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.

Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to increase, but it will vary by field. For example, employment of health specialties teachers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. As an aging population increasingly demands healthcare services, additional postsecondary teachers are expected to be needed to help educate the workers who will provide these services.

Job Prospects

There are expected to be more job opportunities for part-time postsecondary teachers since many institutions are filling vacancies with part-time rather than full-time teachers. There will be a limited number of full-time tenure-track positions and competition is expected to be high.

Some fields, such as health specialties and nursing, will likely experience better job prospects than others, such as those in the humanities.

Employment projections data for postsecondary teachers, 2019-29
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2019	Projected Employment, 2029	Change, 2019-29		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2019	Projected Employment, 2029	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Postsecondary teachers	—	1,329,900	1,451,400	9	121,500	—
Business teachers, postsecondary	25-1011	105,100	117,700	12	12,700	Get data
Computer science teachers, postsecondary	25-1021	38,500	39,500	3	1,000	Get data
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary	25-1022	60,100	60,800	1	800	Get data
Architecture teachers, postsecondary	25-1031	8,500	9,000	5	400	Get data
Engineering teachers, postsecondary	25-1032	44,600	48,400	9	3,800	Get data
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary	25-1041	11,400	11,700	2	200	Get data
Biological science teachers, postsecondary	25-1042	64,700	70,700	9	6,000	Get data
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary	25-1043	2,100	2,200	2	0	Get data
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary	25-1051	13,100	13,400	2	200	Get data
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary	25-1052	26,400	27,500	4	1,100	Get data
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary	25-1053	7,600	7,800	4	300	Get data
Physics teachers, postsecondary	25-1054	17,100	17,800	4	800	Get data
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary	25-1061	7,200	7,500	4	300	Get data
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary	25-1062	13,400	14,000	5	700	Get data
Economics teachers, postsecondary	25-1063	16,800	17,600	5	900	Get data
Geography teachers, postsecondary	25-1064	4,800	5,000	3	100	Get data
Political science teachers, postsecondary	25-1065	19,800	20,800	5	1,000	Get data
Psychology teachers, postsecondary	25-1066	46,800	51,000	9	4,100	Get data
Sociology teachers, postsecondary	25-1067	17,000	17,600	4	600	Get data
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other	25-1069	19,300	19,200	0	-100	Get data
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	25-1071	254,000	306,100	21	52,100	Get data
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary	25-1072	72,900	85,700	18	12,800	Get data
Education teachers, postsecondary	25-1081	77,300	81,000	5	3,700	Get data
Library science teachers, postsecondary	25-1082	5,400	5,500	3	200	Get data
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary	25-1111	16,800	17,900	7	1,100	Get data
Law teachers, postsecondary	25-1112	21,300	22,800	7	1,500	Get data
Social work teachers, postsecondary	25-1113	17,300	18,300	6	1,000	Get data
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary	25-1121	116,300	122,800	6	6,500	Get data
Communications teachers, postsecondary	25-1122	35,600	36,700	3	1,100	Get data
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary	25-1123	81,300	82,900	2	1,700	Get data
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary	25-1124	30,600	32,300	6	1,700	Get data
History teachers, postsecondary	25-1125	26,000	27,000	4	900	Get data
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary	25-1126	30,900	32,900	7	2,100	Get data