What Does it Take to Be a Communications Professor?
Communications Professor Definition 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.
List of Communications Professor Job Duties
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
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What Every Communications Professor Should Know
Communications Professors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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
- Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team Director
- Adjunct Instructor
- Professor of Communication Arts
- Speech Instructor
- Communication Arts Lecturer
Communications Professor Employment Estimates
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,000 job openings in this field each year.

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.
Communications Professor Salary
The salary for Communications Professors ranges between about $35,870 and $133,570 a year.

Communications Professors who work in Connecticut, New Hampshire, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Communications Professors make in each U.S. state?
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 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
Becoming a Communications Professor
What education is needed to be a Communications Professor?

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

Where do Communications Professors Work?

Below are examples of industries where Communications Professors work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Communications Professor might also be interested in the following careers:
- Anthropology and Archeology Professors
- Broadcast News Analysts
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors
Are you already one of the many Communications Professor in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
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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