Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Education and TrainingO*NET 25-1042.00United States

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$84,440

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+9.1%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
Doctoral degree or more

86.8% of the workforce

Employment
1.78M jobs

Growing to 1.94M by 2035

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Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What biological science teachers, postsecondary do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as molecular biology, marine biology, and botany.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
  • Prepare materials for laboratory activities and course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Supervise students' laboratory work.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Assist students who need extra help with their coursework outside of class.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
  • Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  • Provide students course-related experiences, such as field trips, outside the classroom.
  • Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  • Review papers for publication in journals.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Maintain or repair lab equipment.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$49,147
25th percentile
$62,814
50th percentile
$84,440
75th percentile
$118,952
90th percentile
$175,749

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $84,440 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+9.1%faster than average
20251,782,325 jobs
2035 projected1,944,527 jobs

162,202 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Doctoral degree or more
86.8%
Master's or Professional degree
11.7%
Associate degree
1.3%
Bachelor's degree
0.2%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Curriculum Development
  • Learning Management Systems
  • Cell Biology
  • Pedagogy
  • Genetics
  • Lecturing
  • Student Engagement
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Syllabus Development
  • Ecology
  • Immunology
  • Educational Assessment
  • Student Learning Outcomes
  • Online Teaching
  • Educational Technologies

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Negotiation
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Biology Adjunct Faculties682 postings
  2. 02Biology Faculties350 postings
  3. 03Adjunct Faculties201 postings
  4. 04Biology Lecturers190 postings
  5. 05Adjunct Biology Instructors135 postings
  6. 06Biological Science Aides81 postings
  7. 07Professors of Biological Sciences73 postings
  8. 08Faculties56 postings
  9. 09Non-Tenure Track Faculties56 postings
  10. 10Professors of Biology56 postings
  11. 11Lecturers49 postings
  12. 12Adjunct Professors of Biology47 postings
  13. 13Faculty Instructors47 postings
  14. 14Associate Professors of Biology42 postings
  15. 15Science Faculties35 postings
  16. 16Open Rank Faculties34 postings
  17. 17Leo Lecturers33 postings
  18. 18Microbiology Managers33 postings
  19. 19Molecular Biologists32 postings
  20. 20Professors of Microbiology27 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Herc81 postings
  2. 02Dallas College50 postings
  3. 03Lone Star College System36 postings
  4. 04University of Chicago34 postings
  5. 05Northeastern University32 postings
  6. 06Alamo Colleges District31 postings
  7. 07Tennessee Board of Regents31 postings
  8. 08College of DuPage27 postings
  9. 09University of Pennsylvania24 postings
  10. 10Ohio State University23 postings
  11. 11California State University-Chancellors Office22 postings
  12. 12Ivy Tech Community College21 postings
  13. 13Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana20 postings
  14. 14The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley20 postings
  15. 15Oakton College19 postings
  16. 16Dallas County Community College18 postings
  17. 17Science Careers18 postings
  18. 18South University18 postings
  19. 19Mount Wachusett Community College17 postings
  20. 20University of Maryland Faculty Physicians Inc.17 postings

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