# Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

> Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. 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/psychology-teachers-postsecondary
- SOC code: 25-1066.00
- Career family: Education
- Median annual pay: $80,340 (10th percentile $49,050, 90th percentile $153,600)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.0%
- Openings a year: 3,700
- 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) | 19 |
| Investigative (I) | 77 |
| Artistic (A) | 48 |
| Social (S) | 100 |
| Enterprising (E) | 22 |
| Conventional (C) | 38 |

## What you'd do

- Training and Teaching Others (importance 99/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 97/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 86/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 86/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 84/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 82/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 81/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 78/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

Psychology, English Language, Education and Training, Sociology and Anthropology, Mathematics, Therapy and Counseling, Computers and Electronics, Communications and Media, Biology, Administration and Management

## Also called

Abnormal Psychology Teacher, Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Psychology Faculty Member, Adjunct Psychology Instructor, Adjunct Psychology Professor, Applied Psychology Professor, Applied Psychology Teacher, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor

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

- [Psychology, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4201) (CIP 4201, 1,605 colleges)
- [Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1313) (CIP 1313, 1,257 colleges)
- [Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5115) (CIP 5115, 969 colleges)
- [Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4228) (CIP 4228, 729 colleges)
- [Research and Experimental Psychology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4227) (CIP 4227, 327 colleges)
- [Behavioral Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3017) (CIP 3017, 144 colleges)
- [Psychology, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4299) (CIP 4299, 113 colleges)
- [Biopsychology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3010) (CIP 3010, 28 colleges)
- Thanatology (CIP 3053, 5 colleges)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Research and Experimental Psychology | $57,478 | $99,344 | $9,888 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Psychology, General | $47,774 | $99,007 | $12,500 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Research and Experimental Psychology | $57,188 | $86,946 | $31,181 |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Research and Experimental Psychology | not reported | $83,012 | $14,500 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Psychology, General | $54,429 | $82,433 | not reported |
| [California State University-Sacramento](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-sacramento-375) | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $69,280 | $82,062 | $23,000 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-daytona-beach-908) | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $48,898 | $82,023 | $24,529 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott-909) | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $48,898 | $82,023 | $24,529 |

## Related careers

- [Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sociology-teachers-postsecondary): $84,290 median pay
- [Education Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/education-teachers-postsecondary): $75,350 median pay
- [Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-work-teachers-postsecondary): $77,570 median pay
- [Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/teaching-assistants-postsecondary): $42,910 median pay
- [Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/anthropology-and-archeology-teachers-postsecondary): $99,650 median pay
- [Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-specialties-teachers-postsecondary): $107,310 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.