Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary: Job Description
Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Tasks Do Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
Typical responsibilities of biological science teachers, postsecondary include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful biological science teachers, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Biology Instructor
- Adjunct Biology Professor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Algology Teacher
- Anatomy Instructor
- Anatomy Professor
- Apiculture Teacher
- Arboriculture Teacher
How Many Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
There are about 259,892 biological science teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +6.3% over the projection horizon.
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $41,048 |
| Hourly median | $19.73 |
| 10th percentile | $28,328 |
| 25th percentile | $34,688 |
| 75th percentile | $47,408 |
| 90th percentile | $53,768 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $125,670 |
| Alaska | $107,230 |
| Utah | $103,830 |
| Rhode Island | $101,800 |
| New Jersey | $100,870 |
| Michigan | $100,110 |
| New York | $100,110 |
| Montana | $97,620 |
| Oregon | $97,520 |
| New Hampshire | $85,980 |
| Connecticut | $85,310 |
| North Dakota | $84,750 |
| District of Columbia | $84,560 |
| Minnesota | $84,310 |
| Nebraska | $84,110 |
| Texas | $83,760 |
| Florida | $83,740 |
| Illinois | $83,580 |
| Massachusetts | $83,560 |
| Missouri | $83,170 |
| Indiana | $82,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,760 |
| Wisconsin | $81,740 |
| New Mexico | $81,700 |
| Maryland | $81,630 |
| Georgia | $81,540 |
| Maine | $81,290 |
| Idaho | $81,180 |
| Puerto Rico | $81,130 |
| Washington | $81,050 |
| Vermont | $80,700 |
| Louisiana | $80,610 |
| Tennessee | $80,190 |
| Kansas | $80,120 |
| Nevada | $79,870 |
| Delaware | $79,850 |
| Wyoming | $79,820 |
| Colorado | $79,760 |
| South Dakota | $79,430 |
| North Carolina | $79,160 |
| South Carolina | $78,620 |
| Iowa | $78,400 |
| Virginia | $77,980 |
| Alabama | $77,940 |
| Arizona | $77,650 |
| West Virginia | $77,020 |
| Hawaii | $76,260 |
| Ohio | $75,320 |
| Kentucky | $67,110 |
| Mississippi | $66,960 |
| Arkansas | $64,610 |
| Oklahoma | $64,340 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for biological science teachers, postsecondary shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $112,404 | 11.3% | 0.65 |
| Middle Atlantic | $92,281 | 18.8% | 1.14 |
| Rocky Mountains | $88,749 | 4.0% | 0.95 |
| New England | $86,421 | 3.4% | 1.35 |
| Great Lakes | $85,274 | 13.1% | 0.86 |
| Plains States | $82,368 | 7.5% | 1.03 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $81,130 | 0.7% | 1.14 |
| Southwest | $80,443 | 15.0% | 1.35 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $165,530 | 570 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $139,280 | 750 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $136,740 | 200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $131,540 | 250 |
| Charlottesville, VA | VA | $130,450 | 130 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $126,290 | 370 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $125,220 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $123,280 | 250 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of biological science teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 52,270 | n/a |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 820 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Use
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (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)
- Analytical or scientific software: SAS (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of biological science teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Public Speaking
Getting Started in This Career
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Biochemists and Biophysicists (Supplemental)
- Bioinformatics Scientists (Supplemental)
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists (Primary-Short)
- Geneticists (Supplemental)
- Biologists (Supplemental)
- Biological Technicians (Supplemental)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for biological science teachers, postsecondary often complete programs in:
Education
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from 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: 25-1042.00 (Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary).
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