Postsecondary Teachers

How to become an Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary

Official title: Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Also called: Art History Professor, Art Instructor, Art Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Instructor, Music Instructor, Music Professor, Professor, Theater Professor

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Main tasks

Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as acting techniques, fundamentals of music, and art history.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.

How to become one

Educational requirements vary by subject and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges, and others may need work experience in their field of expertise.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 32 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $78,620 a year The middle half earn $61,620 to $103,850.
About 116,900 people work in this job now, and about 119,500 are projected by 2035. (+2.2%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary?

How much does an Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $78,620 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $61,620 to $103,850.

Is an Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 116,900 to about 119,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary?

Usually. 94% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.