Physics Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Tasks Do Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Perform?
The core tasks performed by physics teachers, postsecondary cover:
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
What Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Need to Know
Effective physics teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Acoustics Teacher
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Physics Instructor
- Adjunct Physics Professor
- Adjunct Professor
- Aerodynamics Professor
- Aerodynamics Teacher
- Assistant Professor
How Many Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
The U.S. employs around 363,441 physics teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +14.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $80,685 |
| Hourly median | $38.79 |
| 10th percentile | $54,965 |
| 25th percentile | $67,825 |
| 75th percentile | $93,545 |
| 90th percentile | $106,405 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $128,190 |
| Arizona | $122,160 |
| Connecticut | $119,310 |
| Montana | $106,330 |
| Michigan | $105,790 |
| New York | $105,360 |
| New Mexico | $104,450 |
| Minnesota | $103,220 |
| Kansas | $102,970 |
| Maryland | $102,810 |
| Maine | $102,490 |
| Indiana | $101,780 |
| Virginia | $100,440 |
| Iowa | $100,350 |
| Oregon | $99,460 |
| Massachusetts | $98,220 |
| Georgia | $97,770 |
| Texas | $97,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $93,770 |
| Wisconsin | $91,460 |
| Nebraska | $89,310 |
| North Carolina | $85,680 |
| Oklahoma | $85,110 |
| Missouri | $84,890 |
| Vermont | $84,240 |
| Alabama | $84,160 |
| Delaware | $84,000 |
| New Jersey | $83,710 |
| Nevada | $83,380 |
| Washington | $83,350 |
| South Dakota | $81,960 |
| Illinois | $81,940 |
| Puerto Rico | $81,720 |
| Arkansas | $81,350 |
| Utah | $81,060 |
| Louisiana | $81,030 |
| South Carolina | $80,970 |
| Ohio | $80,770 |
| Tennessee | $80,000 |
| District of Columbia | $79,670 |
| Colorado | $79,160 |
| Kentucky | $79,070 |
| West Virginia | $75,460 |
| Idaho | $70,990 |
| Mississippi | $61,890 |
| Florida | $56,060 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for physics teachers, postsecondary vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $114,553 | 12.0% | 0.74 |
| New England | $103,117 | 6.7% | 1.67 |
| Southwest | $99,692 | 12.3% | 1.00 |
| Middle Atlantic | $96,278 | 22.2% | 1.44 |
| Plains States | $95,723 | 6.2% | 0.95 |
| Great Lakes | $91,388 | 14.1% | 0.99 |
| Southeast | $83,246 | 21.7% | 1.06 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $81,720 | 0.7% | 1.08 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | TN | $139,180 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $138,210 | 220 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $135,700 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $135,370 | 110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $128,580 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $128,190 | 300 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $127,080 | 80 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | TX | $126,200 | 110 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of physics teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 13,560 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot 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)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Perl (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for physics teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Computer and Information Research Scientists (Supplemental)
- Mathematicians (Supplemental)
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Nanosystems Engineers (Supplemental)
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Biochemists and Biophysicists (Supplemental)
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists (Supplemental)
- Astronomers (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring physics teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Education
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced 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: 25-1054.00 (Physics Teachers, Postsecondary).
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