Life As a Communications Professor
Career Description Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What Do Communications Professors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
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Communications Professor Needed Skills
When polled, Communications Professors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles
- Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Media Arts Professor
- Drama Professor
- Public Speaking Teacher
Job Outlook for Communications Professors
In the United States, there were 34,100 jobs for Communications Professor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,400 new jobs for Communications Professor by 2026. The BLS estimates 3,000 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Communications Professor are Utah, Colorado, and Missouri. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Wyoming, or Rhode Island. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Communications Professor Make?
The typical yearly salary for Communications Professors is somewhere between $35,870 and $133,570.

Communications Professors who work in Connecticut, New Hampshire, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Communications Professors make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $64,270 |
Arkansas | $65,060 |
Colorado | $58,270 |
Connecticut | $83,720 |
District of Columbia | $92,970 |
Florida | $77,290 |
Georgia | $77,820 |
Hawaii | $60,030 |
Idaho | $71,100 |
Illinois | $78,810 |
Iowa | $88,340 |
Kansas | $70,090 |
Kentucky | $68,530 |
Louisiana | $65,150 |
Maine | $62,060 |
Maryland | $76,040 |
Massachusetts | $79,930 |
Michigan | $71,770 |
Minnesota | $67,630 |
Mississippi | $54,940 |
Missouri | $76,730 |
Montana | $59,700 |
Nebraska | $71,140 |
Nevada | $59,780 |
New Hampshire | $88,600 |
New Jersey | $92,200 |
New York | $90,470 |
North Carolina | $65,770 |
North Dakota | $68,790 |
Ohio | $74,860 |
Oklahoma | $50,700 |
Oregon | $80,700 |
Pennsylvania | $76,720 |
Rhode Island | $80,330 |
South Carolina | $65,620 |
South Dakota | $66,390 |
Tennessee | $56,860 |
Texas | $68,900 |
Utah | $74,270 |
Virginia | $67,530 |
Washington | $60,370 |
West Virginia | $51,150 |
Wisconsin | $79,870 |
Wyoming | $66,780 |
What Tools & Technology do Communications Professors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Communications Professors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Google Docs
- Blackboard
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Learning management system LMS
- Blackboard Learn
- Course management system software
- Sakai CLE
- Collaborative editing software
- Desire2Learn
How do I Become a Communications Professor?
Individuals working as a Communications Professor have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Communications Professor?

Where Communications Professors Work

Communications Professors work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those interested in being a Communications Professor may also be interested in:
- Anthropology and Archeology Professors
- Broadcast News Analysts
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors
Career changers with experience as a Communications Professor sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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