What Does it Take to Be a Communications Professor?
Job Description: Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What Do Communications Professors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students’ class work, assignments, and papers.
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Communications Professor Required Skills
When polled, Communications Professors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Other Communications Professor Job Titles
- Instructor
- Associate Professor
- Communication Studies Professor
- Speech Teacher
- Adjunct Instructor
Communications Professor Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 34,100 jobs in the United States for Communications Professor. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,400 new jobs for Communications Professor by 2026. There will be an estimated 3,000 positions for Communications Professor per year.

The states with the most job growth for Communications Professor are Utah, Colorado, and Missouri. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Wyoming, or Rhode Island. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Communications Professor
Communications Professors make between $35,870 and $133,570 a year.

Communications Professors who work in Connecticut, New Hampshire, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Communications Professors make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $64,270 |
Arkansas | $65,060 |
Colorado | $58,270 |
Connecticut | $83,720 |
District of Columbia | $92,970 |
Florida | $77,290 |
Georgia | $77,820 |
Hawaii | $60,030 |
Idaho | $71,100 |
Illinois | $78,810 |
Iowa | $88,340 |
Kansas | $70,090 |
Kentucky | $68,530 |
Louisiana | $65,150 |
Maine | $62,060 |
Maryland | $76,040 |
Massachusetts | $79,930 |
Michigan | $71,770 |
Minnesota | $67,630 |
Mississippi | $54,940 |
Missouri | $76,730 |
Montana | $59,700 |
Nebraska | $71,140 |
Nevada | $59,780 |
New Hampshire | $88,600 |
New Jersey | $92,200 |
New York | $90,470 |
North Carolina | $65,770 |
North Dakota | $68,790 |
Ohio | $74,860 |
Oklahoma | $50,700 |
Oregon | $80,700 |
Pennsylvania | $76,720 |
Rhode Island | $80,330 |
South Carolina | $65,620 |
South Dakota | $66,390 |
Tennessee | $56,860 |
Texas | $68,900 |
Utah | $74,270 |
Virginia | $67,530 |
Washington | $60,370 |
West Virginia | $51,150 |
Wisconsin | $79,870 |
Wyoming | $66,780 |
What Tools do Communications Professors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Communications Professors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Google Docs
- Blackboard
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Learning management system LMS
- Blackboard Learn
- Course management system software
- Sakai CLE
- Collaborative editing software
- Desire2Learn
How do I Become a Communications Professor?
Education needed to be a Communications Professor:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Communications Professors Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Communications Professor might also be interested in the following careers:
- Anthropology and Archeology Professors
- Broadcast News Analysts
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors
Are you already one of the many Communications Professor in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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