What do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Do?
Do you enjoy shaping young minds or educating others? If so, you may want to consider becoming a postsecondary school teacher. These teachers instruct classes for students at the college and university level. Workers in this field may also be employed by technical, trade, and vocational schools. Postsecondary teachers teach a wide range of subjects in the humanities, arts, and sciences, and use lectures and examinations to ensure that students have retained the material. Postsecondary teachers are typically referred to as professors or instructors.
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Skills and Abilities
Firstly, postsecondary teachers should be knowledgeable about the specific subject that they will be teaching. They should also understand the process behind creating lesson plans, exams, and other instructional materials needed for class. Since lecturing is a major part of this career, prospective teachers should feel comfortable speaking in front of large groups of students. Interpersonal and communication skills are needed, and many teachers collaborate with colleagues to develop a standardized curriculum. Professionals in this field should also possess the ability to research topics, and many teachers publish their findings and opinions in academic journals.
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Duties
The primary goal of a postsecondary teacher is to instruct students in a particular subject area. This involves giving lectures, moderating discussions, and grading assignments. Most postsecondary instructors publish literature at some point in time, and researching specific topics consumes a large portion of their time. Some professors have jobs outside of the classroom, and many lend their knowledge and expertise to private companies. Teachers may be expected to collaborate with administrators in order to establish department rules and regulations. Postsecondary teachers may also be asked to:
- Participate in campus events
- Direct struggling students to academic resources
- Oversee a team of teacher assistants
- Write and publish material and textbooks
- Publicly speak on academic topics
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Tools and Technology
Postsecondary teachers employ some technological devices when performing their jobs. Projectors, televisions, and recording devices are sometimes used as visual and auditory aids during lectures. Computers are used to input grades and other information, so teachers should feel comfortable using the necessary software programs. Other communications devices such as phones and fax machines may be used to keep in contact with coworkers and superiors.
Education and Training for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Since you will be in charge of educating others, high levels of education are required to enter this line of work. Roughly 43% of workers in this field held doctorate degrees, while almost 36% held master’s degrees. Four years of undergraduate education, followed by 2-4 years of graduate and postgraduate education are usually needed. Many vocational, trade, and community colleges only require instructors to possess a master’s degree.
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Salary
The median salary for postsecondary workers is around $62,000 a year, with the top 10% earning nearly $135,000 a year. There was a noticeable wage increase of 2.3% over the last year, largely caused by increased demand for workers in this industry. Educators working in hospital environments reported the highest earnings, while those working in the education support industry reported the lowest. As with any career, experience and location heavily influences salary, and workers at more elite private institutions earn the highest salaries.
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Jobs by Geography
New York, Michigan, and Florida employed the largest number of postsecondary teachers in the nation. Utah, Illinois, and Wisconsin paid the highest wages in the country; these areas actually have a shortage of postsecondary school teachers. Teachers in the Northeastern, Upper Midwestern, and Western United States earned the highest salaries. There was a sizeable 2.7% increase in employment levels for this career over the last year, and there are currently 189,490 Americans employed as postsecondary teachers.