Postsecondary Teachers

What They Do: Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level.

Work Environment: Most postsecondary teachers work in public and private colleges and universities, professional schools, and junior or community colleges. Outside of class time, their schedules are generally flexible, and they may spend that time in administrative duties, advising students, and conducting research.

How to Become One: Educational requirements vary by subject 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, and others may need work experience in their field of expertise.

Salary: The median annual wage for postsecondary teachers was $85,330 in May 2025.

Job Outlook: Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of postsecondary teachers with similar occupations.

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What Postsecondary Teachers Do[About this section] [To Top]

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 of Postsecondary Teachers

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 for Postsecondary Teachers[About this section] [To Top]

Postsecondary teachers hold about 1.3 million jobs. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up postsecondary teachers is 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 are 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.

Postsecondary Teacher 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.

How to Become a Postsecondary Teacher[About this section] [To Top]

Get the education you need: Find schools for Postsecondary Teachers near you!

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 for Postsecondary Teachers

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 for Postsecondary Teachers

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 for Postsecondary Teachers

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 for Postsecondary Teachers

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 for Postsecondary Teachers

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.

Postsecondary Teacher Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]

Salary and job outlook data updated October 2026 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wages, 2025-35 employment projections).

The median annual wage for postsecondary teachers was $85,330 in May 2025. 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 $49,540, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $203,580.

Median annual wages for postsecondary teachers in May 2025 were as follows:

Law teachers, postsecondary	$128,500
Economics teachers, postsecondary	$123,920
Engineering teachers, postsecondary	$109,270
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	$107,310
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary	$103,170
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary	$101,420
Physics teachers, postsecondary	$100,310
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary	$99,650
Business teachers, postsecondary	$99,080
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary	$98,700
Political science teachers, postsecondary	$98,070
Geography teachers, postsecondary	$97,590
Computer science teachers, postsecondary	$96,980
Architecture teachers, postsecondary	$96,870
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary	$94,980
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary	$93,250
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary	$85,020
Biological science teachers, postsecondary	$84,620
Sociology teachers, postsecondary	$84,290
History teachers, postsecondary	$83,820
Psychology teachers, postsecondary	$80,340
Library science teachers, postsecondary	$80,340
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary	$80,260
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary	$80,250
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary	$79,940
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary	$79,350
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary	$78,760
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary	$78,620
Communications teachers, postsecondary	$78,580
Social work teachers, postsecondary	$77,570
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary	$77,270
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary	$76,590
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary	$75,870
Education teachers, postsecondary	$75,350
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other	$72,990

In May 2025, the median annual wages for postsecondary teachers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state	$96,120
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private	$89,660
Junior colleges; local	$81,640
Junior colleges; state	$68,160

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.

Job Outlook for Postsecondary Teachers[About this section] [To Top]

Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 103,300 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.

Careers Related to Postsecondary Teachers[About this section] [To Top]

Career and Technical Education Teachers

Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. They teach academic and technical content to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.

Instructional Coordinators

Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, coordinate its implementation with teachers and principals, and assess its effectiveness.

Postsecondary Education Administrators

Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. Their job duties vary depending on the area of the college they manage, such as admissions, student life, or the registrar's office.

Principals - Elementary, Middle, and High School

Elementary, middle, and high school principals manage all school operations, including daily school activities. They coordinate curriculums, oversee teachers and other school staff, and provide a safe and productive learning environment for students.

More Postsecondary Teacher Information[About this section] [To Top]

For more information about postsecondary teachers, visit

Council of Graduate Schools