Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Tasks Do Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary span:
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- 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.
- Write articles and books.
What Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Need to Know
Successful philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Adjunct Faculty Member
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Philosophy Professor
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Biblical Studies Professor
- Church History Teacher
How Many Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
There are roughly 994,910 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +3.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $71,584 |
| Hourly median | $34.42 |
| 10th percentile | $48,341 |
| 25th percentile | $59,963 |
| 75th percentile | $83,205 |
| 90th percentile | $94,827 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $103,210 |
| New York | $95,400 |
| Maine | $90,280 |
| Utah | $87,240 |
| New Hampshire | $86,520 |
| Virginia | $83,570 |
| Massachusetts | $82,880 |
| Connecticut | $81,700 |
| Arizona | $80,180 |
| Rhode Island | $79,810 |
| Texas | $79,790 |
| Oregon | $79,270 |
| North Carolina | $78,910 |
| Vermont | $78,490 |
| Washington | $78,200 |
| New Jersey | $77,600 |
| District of Columbia | $77,370 |
| Illinois | $77,290 |
| Kentucky | $77,120 |
| Wisconsin | $77,090 |
| Indiana | $77,030 |
| Minnesota | $77,030 |
| Michigan | $76,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,590 |
| Iowa | $75,550 |
| South Carolina | $75,540 |
| Nebraska | $75,450 |
| Arkansas | $73,940 |
| Mississippi | $73,720 |
| Louisiana | $73,020 |
| Maryland | $72,890 |
| Missouri | $72,740 |
| Colorado | $70,330 |
| Georgia | $68,050 |
| Tennessee | $67,050 |
| Ohio | $63,950 |
| Oklahoma | $62,440 |
| Kansas | $62,310 |
| Idaho | $61,760 |
| Alabama | $58,660 |
| Florida | $54,690 |
| South Dakota | $40,340 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for philosophy and religion 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 | $86,807 | 12.2% | 0.95 |
| Middle Atlantic | $83,531 | 23.7% | 1.62 |
| New England | $82,789 | 8.4% | 1.78 |
| Southwest | $78,693 | 10.6% | 0.89 |
| Great Lakes | $74,206 | 16.6% | 1.24 |
| Plains States | $72,030 | 7.1% | 1.14 |
| Southeast | $71,377 | 18.3% | 0.88 |
| Rocky Mountains | $71,108 | 3.1% | 1.08 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $131,140 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $122,730 | 150 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $107,800 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $107,530 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $103,980 | 60 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | MI | $103,570 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $103,210 | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $102,630 | 640 |
Industry Breakdown
Most philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 20,800 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary 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)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Contact With Others
How to Become Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Sources
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: 25-1126.00 (Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary).