History Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Tasks Do History Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
Typical responsibilities of history teachers, postsecondary cover:
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as ancient history, postwar civilizations, and the history of third-world countries.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful history teachers, postsecondary rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of History Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Art History Professor
- Adjunct History Instructor
- Adjunct Instructor
- African History Professor
- American History Professor
- Art History Adjunct Professor
- Art History Instructor
- Assistant Professor
Employment and Demand
There are about 1,148,630 history teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +10.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for History Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $38,484 |
| Hourly median | $18.50 |
| 10th percentile | $27,060 |
| 25th percentile | $32,772 |
| 75th percentile | $44,196 |
| 90th percentile | $49,908 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $121,020 |
| New Hampshire | $106,810 |
| Rhode Island | $106,240 |
| Arizona | $101,510 |
| New York | $101,180 |
| Massachusetts | $100,780 |
| New Jersey | $100,320 |
| Connecticut | $100,220 |
| Oregon | $97,680 |
| Montana | $92,550 |
| Maryland | $87,520 |
| Michigan | $86,230 |
| Maine | $85,950 |
| Illinois | $84,620 |
| Virginia | $82,930 |
| Wisconsin | $82,300 |
| Minnesota | $82,200 |
| Texas | $82,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,640 |
| New Mexico | $80,940 |
| Missouri | $80,430 |
| Vermont | $80,080 |
| Ohio | $79,870 |
| Indiana | $79,860 |
| Washington | $79,470 |
| Kansas | $79,380 |
| District of Columbia | $78,880 |
| Nebraska | $78,820 |
| Nevada | $78,620 |
| Utah | $78,110 |
| Colorado | $77,910 |
| Georgia | $77,500 |
| Iowa | $77,460 |
| South Carolina | $77,150 |
| North Carolina | $76,870 |
| Puerto Rico | $75,010 |
| Kentucky | $73,320 |
| Louisiana | $72,950 |
| Wyoming | $72,120 |
| Tennessee | $66,770 |
| Idaho | $66,240 |
| Oklahoma | $65,600 |
| South Dakota | $65,370 |
| Alaska | $65,060 |
| West Virginia | $64,710 |
| Mississippi | $64,660 |
| Alabama | $61,000 |
| Hawaii | $50,150 |
| Florida | $49,250 |
| Arkansas | $47,570 |
Where History Teachers, Postsecondary Earn the Most
Earnings for history teachers, postsecondary vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $107,335 | 12.3% | 0.77 |
| New England | $99,404 | 8.3% | 1.78 |
| Middle Atlantic | $94,351 | 19.1% | 1.30 |
| Great Lakes | $82,623 | 11.1% | 0.79 |
| Southwest | $82,209 | 13.4% | 1.14 |
| Plains States | $79,711 | 5.6% | 0.87 |
| Rocky Mountains | $78,135 | 3.4% | 0.90 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $75,010 | 0.3% | 0.49 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $162,950 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $133,070 | 160 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $131,090 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $130,460 | 250 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $127,360 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $122,400 | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $119,920 | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $108,480 | 580 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of history teachers, postsecondary are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 19,840 | n/a |
History Teachers, Postsecondary work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (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
The work environment for history teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Getting Started in This Career
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Historians (Supplemental)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Future history teachers, postsecondary often complete programs in:
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
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: 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary).
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