positions on a “tenure track” are declining.
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
Communication skills. Postsecondary teachers need to write papers, give lectures, and serve on committees. To do so, 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.
Instructional skills. 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.
Pay
Postsecondary Teachers
Median annual wages, May 2010
Postsecondary Teachers
$62,050
Education, Training, and Library Occupations
$45,690
Total, All Occupations
$33,840
All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
The median annual wage of postsecondary teachers was $62,050 in May 2010. 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 $30,720, and the top 10 percent earned more than $130,510.
Classes are generally held during the day. Some are held on nights and weekends to accommodate students who have jobs or family obligations. Many postsecondary teachers do not teach classes in the summer, but they use that time to conduct research or to travel. Other postsecondary teachers teach summer courses.
Postsecondary teachers’ schedules are generally flexible. Postsecondary teachers need to be on campus to teach classes and keep office hours. Otherwise they are free to set their schedule and decide when and where they will prepare for class and will grade assignments.
About 29 percent of postsecondary teachers worked part time in 2010. Some postsecondary teachers work part time at several colleges or universities.
Most graduate teaching assistants work part time while also studying for their degree. The number of hours they work may vary, depending on the institution and their particular assistantship.
Job Outlook
Postsecondary Teachers
Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20
Postsecondary Teachers
17%
Education, Training, and Library Occupations
15%
Total, All Occupations
14%
All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Employment of postsecondary teachers is expected to grow by 17 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Growth is expected as enrollments at postsecondary institutions continue to rise.
The number of people attending postsecondary institutions is expected to grow from 2010 to 2020. These students will seek higher education to gain the additional education and skills they need to meet their career goals. As more people enter colleges and universities, more postsecondary teachers will be needed to serve these additional students.
Employment is expected to grow fastest in for-profit institutions, which have experienced rapid enrollment growth over the past decade. This trend is expected to continue from 2010 to 2020.
However, despite expected increases in enrollment, employment growth in public colleges and universities will depend on state and local government budgets. When state and local governments have budget deficits, they may lay off employees. As a result, employment growth may be somewhat dampened by state and local government budget deficits.
Job Prospects
Colleges and universities are moving away from tenure-track positions and toward adjunct and part-time positions. As a result, there is a lot of competition for tenure-track positions. Still, opportunities should be available for part-time or adjunct professors.
In addition, a number of postsecondary teachers are expected to retire, creating opportunities for new people entering the field.
Some specialties, such as nursing and engineering, will likely experience better job prospects than others, such as those in the humanities.
Employment projections data for postsecondary teachers, 2010-20
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2010 Projected Employment, 2020 Change, 2010-20 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric
Postsecondary Teachers
25-1000 1,756,000 2,061,700 17 305,700
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of postsecondary teachers.
OCCUPATION JOB DUTIES ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION MEDIAN ANNUAL PAY, MAY 2010
Anthropologists and Archeologists
Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of human beings, past and present. They examine the cultures, languages, archeological remains, and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world.
Master’s degree $54,230
Biochemists and Biophysicists
Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes such as cell development, growth, and heredity.
Doctoral or professional degree $79,390
Chemists and Materials Scientists
Chemists and materials scientists study the structures, compositions, reactions, and other properties of substances.
