Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

Education and TrainingO*NET 25-1067.00United States

Teach courses in sociology. 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

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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.

The work

What sociology teachers, postsecondary do

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

Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, measurement and data collection, and workplace social relations.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
Mentor new faculty.
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.

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: 76.7%
Master's or Professional degree: 23.3%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

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

Sociology
Learning Management Systems
Syllabus Development
Social Sciences
Student Engagement
Psychology
Online Teaching
Educational Assessment
Social Work
Student Learning Outcomes
Pedagogy
Lesson Planning
Curriculum Development
Anthropology
Talent Management
Educational Technologies
Faculty Development
Student Services
Lecturing
Student-Centred Learning

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
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.
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.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
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.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
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.
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.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Adjunct Faculties267 postings
02Biology Adjunct Faculties247 postings
03Sociology Adjunct Instructors183 postings
04Sociology Instructors162 postings
05Lecturers in Sociology93 postings
06Sociologists58 postings
07Adjunct Professors of Sociology57 postings
08Directors of Behavioral Health51 postings
09Professors of Sociology40 postings
10Online Adjunct Faculties27 postings
11Biology Faculties26 postings
12Adjuncts22 postings
13Online Adjunct Instructors20 postings
14Adjunct Instructors19 postings
15Adjunct Lecturers17 postings
16American Sign Language Teachers15 postings
17Faculties14 postings
18Associate Faculty13 postings
19Directors of Ethics and Compliance13 postings
20Professors of English13 postings

Top employers

01Devry University103 postings
02Herzing University63 postings
03Tennessee Board of Regents38 postings
04Herc29 postings
05Johnson & Wales University-Providence25 postings
06Austin Community College District24 postings
07Monmouth University22 postings
08Kern Community College District21 postings
09Bristol Community College19 postings
10City Colleges of Chicago-District Office18 postings
11Wilfrid Laurier University18 postings
12Purdue University16 postings
13Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana15 postings
14Lone Star College System15 postings
15Grand Rapids Community College13 postings
16Rasmussen13 postings
17South University13 postings
18California State University-Chancellors Office12 postings
19Morton College12 postings
20Valencia College12 postings

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