Physics Education
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Types of Degrees Physics Education Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many physics education graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Master’s Degree | 69 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 45 |
Graduate Certificate | 7 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
Associate’s Degree | 1 |
What Physics Education Majors Need to Know
People with careers related to physics teacher education were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.
Knowledge Areas for Physics Teacher Education Majors
According to O*NET survey takers, a major in physics teacher education should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Skills for Physics Teacher Education Majors
physics teacher education majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- 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.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Abilities for Physics Teacher Education Majors
A major in physics teacher education will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:

- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Physics Education Major?
People with a physics teacher education degree often go into the following careers:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Education Professors | 10.3% | $64,780 |
Physics Postsecondary Professors | 10.2% | $90,800 |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 7.5% | $60,320 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics Education?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of physics teacher education majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 1 |
Black or African American | 0 |
Hispanic or Latino | 5 |
White | 36 |
International Students | 0 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 3 |
How Much Do Physics Education Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
Average salaries range from $64,340 to $103,830 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to physics teacher education. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Physics Education
Some degrees associated with physics teacher education may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to physics teacher education have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 19.5% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 5.4% |
Master’s Degree | 21.4% |
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 1.8% |
Doctoral Degree | 43.5% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 8.6% |
Online Physics Education Programs
In 2018-2019, 142 schools offered a physics teacher education program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 1 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 8 | 0 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 10 | 0 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 1 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 38 | 2 |
Post-Master’s | 4 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 3 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Physics Education Worth It?
The median salary for a physics teacher education grad is $73,680 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 85% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $675,600 after 20 years!

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Majors Related to Physics Education
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to physics teacher education.
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Aparajita Datta under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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