Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Education and TrainingO*NET 25-1054.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $84,440
Projected change: +9.1%
Typical education: Doctoral degree or more
Employment: 1.78M jobs

Explore this career by location

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

Showing United States

State

County

Loading available locations…

Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

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

The work

What physics 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 course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Supervise students' laboratory work.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.
Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

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: 74.6%
Master's or Professional degree: 25.4%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

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

Physics
Astronomy
Syllabus Development
Student Engagement
Curriculum Development
Pedagogy
Astrophysics
Physical Science
Educational Technologies
Calculus
Algebra
Chemistry
Lecturing
Learning Management Systems
Distance Learning
Biology
Condensed Matter
Talent Management
Oncology
Computer Science

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
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.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Adjunct Faculties406 postings
02Lecturers in Physics126 postings
03Faculty Physicians81 postings
04Physics Faculties81 postings
05Radiation Oncology Registered Nurses60 postings
06Adjunct Professors of Physics58 postings
07Physics Adjunct Instructors40 postings
08Lecturers28 postings
09Professors of Physics28 postings
10Adjunct Lecturers24 postings
11Postdoctoral Fellows22 postings
12Non-Tenure Track Faculties17 postings
13Open Rank Faculties17 postings
14Faculties13 postings
15Postdoctoral Scholars13 postings
16Postdoctoral Researchers12 postings
17Automotive Technology Instructors11 postings
18Biology Adjunct Faculties11 postings
19Open Rank Tenure Track Faculties11 postings
20Adjunct Instructors10 postings

Top employers

01Lone Star College System66 postings
02Ivy Tech Community College41 postings
03Herc31 postings
04University of Minnesota29 postings
05Northeastern University27 postings
06Sepal22 postings
07Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana19 postings
08Dallas College18 postings
09California State University-Chancellors Office16 postings
10Indiana University-Bloomington14 postings
11Pennsylvania State University14 postings
12Alamo Colleges District12 postings
13Monmouth University12 postings
14Tennessee Board of Regents12 postings
15Bellarmine University10 postings
16College of DuPage10 postings
17Dallas County Community College10 postings
18Maricopa Community Colleges10 postings
19Elgin Community College9 postings
20Georgia Southern University9 postings

Keep looking

Adapted Physical Education Specialists

Median pay: $76,231
Employment outlook: +4.6%

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors

Median pay: $61,283
Employment outlook: −9.8%

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Median pay: $84,440
Employment outlook: +9.1%

Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary

Median pay: $84,440
Employment outlook: +9.1%