Postsecondary Teachers

How to become a Postsecondary Sociology Teacher

Official title: Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

Also called: Adjunct Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Faculty Member, Instructor, Lecturer, Professor, Social Science Instructor, Sociology Instructor, Sociology Professor

Teach courses in sociology. 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, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, measurement and data collection, and workplace social relations.
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.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.

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

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $84,290 a year The middle half earn $64,990 to $110,650.
About 14,600 people work in this job now, and about 15,000 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 a Postsecondary Sociology Teacher?

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

Median full-time pay is $84,290 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $64,990 to $110,650.

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

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 14,600 to about 15,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

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

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

Will AI change the work of a Postsecondary Sociology 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.