Pay
The median annual wage of postsecondary teachers was $62,050 in May 2010.
Job Outlook
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 at all levels continue to rise.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of postsecondary teachers with similar occupations.
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What Postsecondary Teachers Do
Professors may teach a wide variety of subjects, such as English, math, and nursing.
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and vocational subjects beyond the high school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.
Duties
Postsecondary teachers typically do the following:
Teach courses on a wide variety of subjects, such as chemistry, culinary arts, and nursing
Work with students who are studying for a degree or a certificate or certification or are taking classes to improve their knowledge or career skills
Develop a curriculum for their course and ensure that it meets college and department standards
Plan lessons and assignments
Assess students’ progress by grading papers and tests
Advise students about which classes to take and how to achieve their goals
Stay informed about changes and innovations in their field
Conduct research and experiments to advance knowledge in their field
Supervise graduate students who are working toward doctoral degrees
Publish original research and analysis in books and academic journals
Serve on academic and administrative committees that review and recommend policies, make budget decisions, or advise on hiring and promotions within their department
Professors and other postsecondary teachers specialize in any of a wide variety of subjects and fields. Some teach academic subjects, such as English or philosophy. Others focus on career-related subjects, such as law, nursing, or culinary arts.
Postsecondary teachers work for different types of institutions, and their job duties vary with the kind of organization they work for.
Some postsecondary teachers are professors who work for large universities. In this setting, they often spend a large portion of their time conducting research and experiments and applying for grants to fund their research. Frequently, they spend less time teaching. Classes may be taught by graduate teaching assistants, who are supervised by a professor.
At colleges and universities, professors (together called the “faculty” of the school) are organized into departments based on the subject matter of their specialty, such as English, physics, Spanish, or music. They may teach one or more courses within that department, such as a mathematics professor teaching calculus, statistics, and a graduate seminar in a very specific area of mathematics.
Professors may teach large classes of several hundred students (usually with the help of several graduate teaching assistants), small classes of about 40 to 50 students, seminars with just a few students, or laboratories where students practice the subject matter. They may work with an increasingly varied student population as more part-time, older, and culturally diverse students are coming to postsecondary schools.
Professors keep up with developments in their field by reading scholarly articles, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences. To gain tenure (a guarantee that a professor cannot be fired without just cause), they must do research, such as experiments, document analysis, or critical reviews, and publish their findings.
Other postsecondary teachers work in smaller colleges and universities or in community colleges. Postsecondary teachers in this setting often spend more time teaching classes and working with students. They may spend some time conducting research, but are not given as much time to devote to it.
Some postsecondary teachers work for online universities or teach online classes. They use websites to present lessons and information and to assign and accept students’ work. They communicate with students by email and by phone and may never meet their students in person.
The amount of time postsecondary teachers spend teaching, serving on committees, and doing research also varies with their position in the university. Full-time professors, particularly those who have tenure, 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.
Graduate teaching assistants, often referred to as graduate TAs, assist faculty by teaching or assisting with classes, while earning a graduate degree as a student. Some teaching assistants have full responsibility for teaching a course. Others help faculty members by grading papers, monitoring exams and quizzes, holding help sessions for students and conducting laboratory sessions. Graduate teaching assistants may work one-on-one with a faculty member, or, in large classes, they may be one of several assistants.
Work Environment
Most classes are held during the day, but some are held on nights and weekends.
Postsecondary teachers held about 1.8 million jobs in 2010.
In 2010, 70 percent of postsecondary teachers worked for colleges, universities and professional schools and 22 percent worked for junior colleges.
Many postsecondary teachers find their jobs rewarding because they are surrounded by others who enjoy their subject. The opportunity to share their expertise with others also 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.
Like college and university instructors, graduate teaching assistants usually have flexibility in their work schedules, but they also must devote time to their own academic coursework and studies. Work may be stressful, particularly when assistants have full responsibility for teaching a class.
Work Schedules
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.
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