# Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

> Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/philosophy-and-religion-teachers-postsecondary
- SOC code: 25-1126.00
- Career family: Education
- Median annual pay: $80,260 (10th percentile $49,140, 90th percentile $139,580)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.0%
- Openings a year: 1,800
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SIA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 24 |
| Investigative (I) | 69 |
| Artistic (A) | 46 |
| Social (S) | 100 |
| Enterprising (E) | 30 |
| Conventional (C) | 41 |

## What you'd do

- Training and Teaching Others (importance 94/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 87/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 77/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 73/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 71/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 70/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 69/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Instructing, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Writing, Learning Strategies, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Philosophy and Theology, English Language, Education and Training, History and Archeology, Sociology and Anthropology, Law and Government, Computers and Electronics, Communications and Media, Customer and Personal Service, Psychology

## Also called

Adjunct Faculty Member, Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Philosophy Professor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Biblical Studies Professor, Church History Teacher, Church Music Professor, College Faculty Member

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Philosophy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3801) (CIP 3801, 911 colleges)
- [Religion/Religious Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3802) (CIP 3802, 746 colleges)
- [Theological and Ministerial Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3906) (CIP 3906, 359 colleges)
- [Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5132) (CIP 5132, 352 colleges)
- [Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3907) (CIP 3907, 235 colleges)
- [Bible/Biblical Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3902) (CIP 3902, 217 colleges)
- [Religious Music and Worship](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3905) (CIP 3905, 161 colleges)
- [Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3903) (CIP 3903, 121 colleges)
- [Religious Education](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3904) (CIP 3904, 121 colleges)
- [Philosophy and Religious Studies, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3800) (CIP 3800, 72 colleges)
- [Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3899) (CIP 3899, 62 colleges)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (CIP 3051, 22 colleges)
- Religious Institution Administration and Law (CIP 3908, 7 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Philosophy | $82,195 | $107,454 | $17,750 |
| [Yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yeshivas-be-er-yitzchok-3350) | Religion/Religious Studies | not reported | $98,832 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Philosophy | $29,855 | $98,592 | not reported |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Philosophy | $58,101 | $97,519 | $19,000 |
| [Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yeshiva-shaarei-torah-of-rockland-3342) | Religion/Religious Studies | not reported | $81,349 | not reported |
| [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice-740) | Philosophy | $35,803 | $78,041 | not reported |
| [William & Mary](https://www.collegesref.com/college/william-mary-3270) | Philosophy | not reported | $75,423 | $18,000 |
| [Fordham University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fordham-university-990) | Philosophy | $37,710 | $74,507 | $21,500 |

## Related careers

- [Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sociology-teachers-postsecondary): $84,290 median pay
- [Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/area-ethnic-and-cultural-studies-teachers-postsecondary): $85,020 median pay
- [History Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/history-teachers-postsecondary): $83,820 median pay
- [English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/english-language-and-literature-teachers-postsecondary): $78,760 median pay
- [Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/anthropology-and-archeology-teachers-postsecondary): $99,650 median pay
- [Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/political-science-teachers-postsecondary): $98,070 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.