# Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

> Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. 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/physics-teachers-postsecondary
- SOC code: 25-1054.00
- Career family: Education
- Median annual pay: $100,310 (10th percentile $60,200, 90th percentile $177,850)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.4%
- Openings a year: 1,100
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SIR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 46 |
| Investigative (I) | 83 |
| Artistic (A) | 38 |
| Social (S) | 84 |
| Enterprising (E) | 23 |
| Conventional (C) | 44 |

## What you'd do

- Training and Teaching Others (importance 93/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 89/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 87/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 86/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 85/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 84/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 84/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 82/100)
- Processing Information (importance 81/100)
- Getting Information (importance 80/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

Mathematics, Physics, Education and Training, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Chemistry, Engineering and Technology, Mechanical, Customer and Personal Service, Administrative

## Also called

Acoustics Teacher, Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Physics Instructor, Adjunct Physics Professor, Adjunct Professor, Aerodynamics Professor, Aerodynamics Teacher, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Astrophysics Professor

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

- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4005) (CIP 4005, 1,371 colleges)
- [Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1313) (CIP 1313, 1,257 colleges)
- [Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4008) (CIP 4008, 956 colleges)
- [Public Health](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5122) (CIP 5122, 836 colleges)
- [Astronomy and Astrophysics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4002) (CIP 4002, 164 colleges)
- Physics and Astronomy (CIP 4011, 5 colleges)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Physics | not reported | $131,025 | not reported |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Physics | not reported | $118,649 | $10,000 |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Physics | not reported | $110,029 | $15,500 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Physics | $66,284 | $103,477 | $14,067 |
| [Oregon State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-state-university-2035) | Physics | $38,558 | $103,167 | $18,250 |
| [Whitworth University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/whitworth-university-3260) | Physics | not reported | $99,842 | not reported |
| [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-the-holy-cross-626) | Physics | not reported | $99,165 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Physics | $42,890 | $96,805 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mathematical-science-teachers-postsecondary): $79,940 median pay
- [Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/atmospheric-earth-marine-and-space-sciences-teachers-postsecondary): $103,170 median pay
- [Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemistry-teachers-postsecondary): $93,250 median pay
- [Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engineering-teachers-postsecondary): $109,270 median pay
- [Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biological-science-teachers-postsecondary): $84,620 median pay
- [Physicists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physicists): $172,250 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.