# Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

> Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. 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/political-science-teachers-postsecondary
- SOC code: 25-1065.00
- Career family: Education
- Median annual pay: $98,070 (10th percentile $56,450, 90th percentile $174,660)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.5%
- Openings a year: 1,500
- 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) | 16 |
| Investigative (I) | 75 |
| Artistic (A) | 45 |
| Social (S) | 98 |
| Enterprising (E) | 38 |
| Conventional (C) | 34 |

## What you'd do

- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 91/100)
- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 89/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 85/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 82/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 79/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 78/100)
- Processing Information (importance 77/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 70/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 70/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

English Language, Law and Government, Education and Training, History and Archeology, Sociology and Anthropology, Geography, Philosophy and Theology, Customer and Personal Service, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics

## Also called

Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Political Science Instructor, Adjunct Political Science Professor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, College Faculty Member, College Professor, Faculty Member, Geopolitics Teacher

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

- [Political Science and Government](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4510) (CIP 4510, 1,292 colleges)
- [International Relations and National Security Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4509) (CIP 4509, 450 colleges)
- [Public Policy Analysis](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4405) (CIP 4405, 242 colleges)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (CIP 3051, 22 colleges)
- History and Political Science (CIP 3046, 21 colleges)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Public Policy Analysis | $91,332 | $126,767 | $12,696 |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Political Science and Government | $50,127 | $121,729 | not reported |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Public Policy Analysis | $75,701 | $107,792 | not reported |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Political Science and Government | $75,950 | $106,153 | $14,558 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Public Policy Analysis | $70,713 | $103,071 | $13,625 |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vanderbilt-university-3113) | Political Science and Government | $60,034 | $102,789 | $14,788 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Political Science and Government | $72,705 | $100,245 | $21,500 |
| [Colby College-Maine](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colby-college-maine-598) | Political Science and Government | $62,942 | $96,621 | $15,750 |

## Related careers

- [Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sociology-teachers-postsecondary): $84,290 median pay
- [Law Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/law-teachers-postsecondary): $128,500 median pay
- [Political Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/political-scientists): $142,080 median pay
- [History Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/history-teachers-postsecondary): $83,820 median pay
- [Economics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economics-teachers-postsecondary): $123,920 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

## 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.