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.
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.
Professor or college instructors typically have an interest in the Thinking and Helping interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Helping interest area indicates a focus on assisting, serving, counseling, or teaching other people.
If you are not sure whether you have a Thinking or Helping interest which might fit with a career as a professor or college instructor, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Professor or college instructors should also possess the following specific qualities:
Communication skills. Postsecondary teachers need to write papers, give lectures, and serve on committees. To do so effectively, they need good communication skills.
Critical-thinking skills. To challenge established theories and beliefs, conduct original research, and design experiments, postsecondary teachers need good critical-thinking skills.
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.
Writing skills. Most professors publish original research and analysis. Consequently, they need to be skilled writers.
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.
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.
For more information about postsecondary teachers, visit
American Association of University Professors