All About Communications Professors
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.
A Day in the Life of a Communications Professor
- Act as advisers to student organizations.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
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What a Communications Professor Should Know
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.
Related Job Titles
- Communication Arts Professor
- Faculty Member
- Adjunct Communications Faculty Member
- Media Arts Professor
- Communications Department Chairperson
What Kind of Communications Professor Job Opportunities Are There?
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
The average yearly salary of a Communications Professor ranges between $35,870 and $133,570.

Communications Professors who work in Connecticut, New Hampshire, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Communications Professors in different U.S. states.
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?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Communications Professors:
- 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 to Become a Communications Professor
Education needed to be a Communications Professor:

What work experience do I need to become a Communications Professor?

Communications Professors Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Communications Professors employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Communications Professor may also be interested in:
- Anthropology and Archeology Professors
- Broadcast News Analysts
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors
Career changers with experience as a Communications Professor sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
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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