Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Tasks Do Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Do?
The core tasks performed by chemistry teachers, postsecondary span:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
- Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective chemistry teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Chemistry Instructor
- Adjunct Chemistry Professor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Analytical Chemistry Teacher
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Biochemistry Professor
- Chemical Educator
Job Outlook
There are about 371,879 chemistry teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +7.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $69,509 |
| Hourly median | $33.42 |
| 10th percentile | $45,418 |
| 25th percentile | $57,464 |
| 75th percentile | $81,555 |
| 90th percentile | $93,601 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $132,250 |
| Kansas | $110,810 |
| North Dakota | $106,540 |
| Arizona | $106,430 |
| Utah | $105,090 |
| Nevada | $101,910 |
| New Jersey | $101,800 |
| New York | $101,610 |
| Minnesota | $100,000 |
| District of Columbia | $99,550 |
| Michigan | $98,910 |
| Rhode Island | $98,630 |
| Massachusetts | $98,050 |
| Oregon | $97,550 |
| Illinois | $95,270 |
| Maryland | $88,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,590 |
| Connecticut | $86,650 |
| Montana | $85,920 |
| New Hampshire | $85,860 |
| Wisconsin | $84,910 |
| Delaware | $84,170 |
| North Carolina | $83,390 |
| Iowa | $82,560 |
| Kentucky | $82,520 |
| Missouri | $82,390 |
| Georgia | $82,200 |
| New Mexico | $81,800 |
| Washington | $81,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $81,430 |
| Indiana | $81,010 |
| Tennessee | $80,650 |
| West Virginia | $80,560 |
| Louisiana | $80,540 |
| South Carolina | $80,310 |
| Texas | $79,830 |
| Wyoming | $79,720 |
| Oklahoma | $79,180 |
| Nebraska | $78,950 |
| Virginia | $78,780 |
| Idaho | $77,880 |
| Alabama | $77,200 |
| Mississippi | $77,100 |
| South Dakota | $76,770 |
| Colorado | $76,630 |
| Ohio | $75,920 |
| Arkansas | $67,450 |
| Vermont | $66,360 |
| Florida | $56,230 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for chemistry 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 | $118,536 | 11.3% | 0.74 |
| Middle Atlantic | $96,121 | 22.1% | 1.51 |
| Plains States | $90,471 | 7.6% | 1.12 |
| Great Lakes | $88,480 | 14.9% | 1.07 |
| Rocky Mountains | $87,700 | 4.0% | 1.04 |
| New England | $87,252 | 7.0% | 1.59 |
| Southwest | $82,261 | 10.2% | 0.84 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $81,430 | 1.0% | 1.63 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | WI | $174,050 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $152,150 | 260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $136,670 | 230 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $134,290 | 130 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $132,790 | 180 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $132,750 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $131,800 | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $130,750 | 480 |
Which Industries Hire Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
The largest employers of chemistry teachers, postsecondary are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 20,360 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- 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)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for chemistry teachers, postsecondary tends to involve 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
Most chemistry teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Natural Sciences Managers (Supplemental)
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Biochemists and Biophysicists (Primary-Long)
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists (Supplemental)
- Chemists (Primary-Long)
- Biological Technicians (Supplemental)
- Chemical Technicians (Supplemental)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future chemistry teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Education
2 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes 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: 25-1052.00 (Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary).
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