Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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The Daily Work of Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
The core tasks performed by area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary cover:
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Skills and Knowledge
Top area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Adjunct Professor
- African Studies Professor
- American Studies Professor
- Asian Studies Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Black Studies Professor
- College Faculty Member
Job Outlook
There are roughly 674,221 area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +6.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $47,517 |
| Hourly median | $22.85 |
| 10th percentile | $33,665 |
| 25th percentile | $40,591 |
| 75th percentile | $54,444 |
| 90th percentile | $61,370 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $113,070 |
| Vermont | $107,220 |
| Kansas | $102,800 |
| Rhode Island | $100,680 |
| Massachusetts | $99,630 |
| Connecticut | $98,660 |
| District of Columbia | $98,500 |
| New York | $97,140 |
| Illinois | $96,980 |
| Michigan | $96,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,660 |
| Maryland | $88,080 |
| New Jersey | $87,450 |
| Arizona | $87,140 |
| Virginia | $80,460 |
| Alaska | $80,370 |
| Washington | $79,660 |
| Minnesota | $78,660 |
| Nebraska | $78,640 |
| Indiana | $78,400 |
| Texas | $77,650 |
| Oregon | $77,070 |
| Montana | $76,670 |
| Wisconsin | $76,600 |
| Georgia | $75,250 |
| Ohio | $72,690 |
| Mississippi | $69,110 |
| North Carolina | $67,170 |
| Alabama | $67,060 |
| Colorado | $66,810 |
| Kentucky | $65,200 |
| Missouri | $65,170 |
| Utah | $64,890 |
| West Virginia | $63,530 |
| South Carolina | $63,000 |
| Florida | $61,920 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,940 |
Where Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Earn the Most
Earnings for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $101,739 | 14.1% | 0.98 |
| New England | $100,109 | 8.6% | 2.33 |
| Middle Atlantic | $94,287 | 32.8% | 2.34 |
| Great Lakes | $85,314 | 10.5% | 0.88 |
| Plains States | $79,918 | 4.0% | 0.88 |
| Southwest | $79,609 | 8.4% | 0.74 |
| Southeast | $68,643 | 17.0% | 1.14 |
| Rocky Mountains | $68,352 | 4.0% | 1.38 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $163,460 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $135,530 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $124,960 | 150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $115,440 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $107,100 | 70 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $103,510 | 330 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $103,130 | 440 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $103,120 | 420 |
Industry Breakdown
Most area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 11,430 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Use
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Education and Training
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-1062.00 (Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary).