Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

These educators teach college-level courses covering home management topics, including family relations, nutrition, finance, and childcare. On a daily basis, their work centers on training and teaching others, gathering information, and keeping their own knowledge up to date. They spend significant time organizing, planning, and prioritizing their instructional work, using computers to prepare materials, and communicating with colleagues and students.

To succeed in this role, individuals need strong skills in speaking, active listening, instructing, and reading comprehension. They must also apply critical thinking and learning strategies to help students grasp complex concepts. Important knowledge areas for this career include education and training, the English language, customer and personal service, psychology, and administration.

Because this is a highly social occupation, these teachers benefit from having a strong social orientation, empathy, and cooperation. They must show dependability, integrity, and sincerity in their interactions, while maintaining an achievement orientation and intellectual curiosity to drive their academic work.

Entering this career typically requires extensive preparation. Most professionals in this field need a graduate degree, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that a doctoral or professional degree is the typical education required to enter the occupation. Some individuals may also qualify with a master's degree, medical degree, or law degree depending on the specific institution and role.

Students interested in this career path can prepare by pursuing several relevant college majors. Suitable fields of study include family and consumer sciences, human development and family studies, foods and nutrition services, nutrition sciences, and apparel and textiles. Other helpful majors include housing and human environments, family and consumer economics, and teacher education in specific subject areas.

In addition to teaching, some professionals in this field are known by titles such as adjunct instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, child development instructor, or clothing and textiles teacher.

According to 2025 data, the median annual pay for these postsecondary teachers is $75,870. This means half of the teachers in this field earn more than this amount, while half earn less. Salaries range from under $47,830 for the lowest 10 percent of earners to over $130,790 for the highest 10 percent.

There are 2,770 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 2.4 percent, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with retirement and turnover, is expected to result in about 200 job openings each year.