Postsecondary Teachers

How to become a Postsecondary Physics Teacher

Official title: Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Also called: Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Instructor, Physical Science Professor, Physics Instructor, Physics Lecturer, Physics Professor, Professor, Science Instructor

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.

Main tasks

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.

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: Doctoral or professional degree

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

Ways in

College: Science degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $100,310 a year The middle half earn $74,050 to $132,650.
About 16,400 people work in this job now, and about 16,800 are projected by 2035. (+2.4%)
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 a Postsecondary Physics Teacher?

How much does a Postsecondary Physics Teacher earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $100,310 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $74,050 to $132,650.

Is a Postsecondary Physics Teacher a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 16,400 to about 16,800 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Postsecondary Physics Teacher?

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

Will AI change the work of a Postsecondary Physics Teacher?

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.