Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

These educators teach college-level students in diverse fields, ranging from humanities to technical disciplines. Daily tasks include preparing course materials, delivering lectures, leading classroom discussions, and grading assignments. They also advise students on academic and career goals, conduct research in their fields of expertise, and serve on institutional committees.

To succeed in this role, instructors need strong skills in speaking, active listening, and instructing. They must have deep knowledge of their specific subject area, as well as education and training methods. Helpful work styles include dependability, integrity, and analytical thinking. These professionals typically have strong social and investigative interests, enjoying work that involves teaching, communicating, and intellectual research.

Entering this field typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, which is the standard level of education for most university faculty positions. Some positions, particularly at community colleges or in technical fields, may accept candidates with master's degrees or relevant professional experience.

Many college majors can lead to this career path. Common preparation areas include liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities, teacher education and professional development, design and applied arts, rhetoric and composition, culinary arts, biological and physical sciences, data analytics, health professions education, ethics, and humanities.

The median annual pay for these postsecondary teachers was $77,640 in 2025. Earnings vary significantly based on the institution, location, and field of study. The lowest 10 percent of earners made less than $44,300, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $160,700.

With 149,840 people employed in this occupation, the field is projected to grow by 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. Despite this modest growth rate, about 12,500 job openings are projected to occur each year over the decade.