Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary: Job Description
Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Do Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Do?
Typical responsibilities of chemistry teachers, postsecondary include:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
- Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective chemistry teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Chemistry Instructor
- Adjunct Chemistry Professor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Analytical Chemistry Teacher
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Biochemistry Professor
- Chemical Educator
How Many Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
There are roughly 371,879 chemistry teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +7.1% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $69,509 |
| Hourly median | $33.42 |
| 10th percentile | $45,418 |
| 25th percentile | $57,464 |
| 75th percentile | $81,555 |
| 90th percentile | $93,601 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $132,250 |
| Kansas | $110,810 |
| North Dakota | $106,540 |
| Arizona | $106,430 |
| Utah | $105,090 |
| Nevada | $101,910 |
| New Jersey | $101,800 |
| New York | $101,610 |
| Minnesota | $100,000 |
| District of Columbia | $99,550 |
| Michigan | $98,910 |
| Rhode Island | $98,630 |
| Massachusetts | $98,050 |
| Oregon | $97,550 |
| Illinois | $95,270 |
| Maryland | $88,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,590 |
| Connecticut | $86,650 |
| Montana | $85,920 |
| New Hampshire | $85,860 |
| Wisconsin | $84,910 |
| Delaware | $84,170 |
| North Carolina | $83,390 |
| Iowa | $82,560 |
| Kentucky | $82,520 |
| Missouri | $82,390 |
| Georgia | $82,200 |
| New Mexico | $81,800 |
| Washington | $81,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $81,430 |
| Indiana | $81,010 |
| Tennessee | $80,650 |
| West Virginia | $80,560 |
| Louisiana | $80,540 |
| South Carolina | $80,310 |
| Texas | $79,830 |
| Wyoming | $79,720 |
| Oklahoma | $79,180 |
| Nebraska | $78,950 |
| Virginia | $78,780 |
| Idaho | $77,880 |
| Alabama | $77,200 |
| Mississippi | $77,100 |
| South Dakota | $76,770 |
| Colorado | $76,630 |
| Ohio | $75,920 |
| Arkansas | $67,450 |
| Vermont | $66,360 |
| Florida | $56,230 |
Where Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Earn the Most
Compensation for chemistry teachers, postsecondary shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $118,536 | 11.3% | 0.74 |
| Middle Atlantic | $96,121 | 22.1% | 1.51 |
| Plains States | $90,471 | 7.6% | 1.12 |
| Great Lakes | $88,480 | 14.9% | 1.07 |
| Rocky Mountains | $87,700 | 4.0% | 1.04 |
| New England | $87,252 | 7.0% | 1.59 |
| Southwest | $82,261 | 10.2% | 0.84 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $81,430 | 1.0% | 1.63 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | WI | $174,050 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $152,150 | 260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $136,670 | 230 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $134,290 | 130 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $132,790 | 180 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $132,750 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $131,800 | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $130,750 | 480 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of chemistry teachers, postsecondary are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 20,360 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where chemistry teachers, postsecondary work:
Tech Stack
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for chemistry teachers, postsecondary is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Typical chemistry teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Natural Sciences Managers (Supplemental)
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Biochemists and Biophysicists (Primary-Long)
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists (Supplemental)
- Chemists (Primary-Long)
- Biological Technicians (Supplemental)
- Chemical Technicians (Supplemental)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future chemistry teachers, postsecondary often complete programs in:
Physical Sciences
14 programs across 3 majors
Education
2 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-1052.00 (Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary).
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