Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary: Job Description
Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Do Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary include:
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- 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.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Write articles and books.
What Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Need to Know
Effective philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Faculty Member
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Philosophy Professor
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Biblical Studies Professor
- Church History Teacher
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 994,910 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +3.7% over the projection horizon.
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $71,584 |
| Hourly median | $34.42 |
| 10th percentile | $48,341 |
| 25th percentile | $59,963 |
| 75th percentile | $83,205 |
| 90th percentile | $94,827 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $103,210 |
| New York | $95,400 |
| Maine | $90,280 |
| Utah | $87,240 |
| New Hampshire | $86,520 |
| Virginia | $83,570 |
| Massachusetts | $82,880 |
| Connecticut | $81,700 |
| Arizona | $80,180 |
| Rhode Island | $79,810 |
| Texas | $79,790 |
| Oregon | $79,270 |
| North Carolina | $78,910 |
| Vermont | $78,490 |
| Washington | $78,200 |
| New Jersey | $77,600 |
| District of Columbia | $77,370 |
| Illinois | $77,290 |
| Kentucky | $77,120 |
| Wisconsin | $77,090 |
| Indiana | $77,030 |
| Minnesota | $77,030 |
| Michigan | $76,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,590 |
| Iowa | $75,550 |
| South Carolina | $75,540 |
| Nebraska | $75,450 |
| Arkansas | $73,940 |
| Mississippi | $73,720 |
| Louisiana | $73,020 |
| Maryland | $72,890 |
| Missouri | $72,740 |
| Colorado | $70,330 |
| Georgia | $68,050 |
| Tennessee | $67,050 |
| Ohio | $63,950 |
| Oklahoma | $62,440 |
| Kansas | $62,310 |
| Idaho | $61,760 |
| Alabama | $58,660 |
| Florida | $54,690 |
| South Dakota | $40,340 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $86,807 | 12.2% | 0.95 |
| Middle Atlantic | $83,531 | 23.7% | 1.62 |
| New England | $82,789 | 8.4% | 1.78 |
| Southwest | $78,693 | 10.6% | 0.89 |
| Great Lakes | $74,206 | 16.6% | 1.24 |
| Plains States | $72,030 | 7.1% | 1.14 |
| Southeast | $71,377 | 18.3% | 0.88 |
| Rocky Mountains | $71,108 | 3.1% | 1.08 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $131,140 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $122,730 | 150 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $107,800 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $107,530 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $103,980 | 60 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | MI | $103,570 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $103,210 | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $102,630 | 640 |
Which Industries Hire Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
Most philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 20,800 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where philosophy and religion 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 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Contact With Others
Getting Started in This Career
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Future philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary typically earn programs in:
Theology and Religious Vocations
14 programs across 7 majors
- Theological & Ministerial Studies
- Biblical Studies
- Pastoral Specialized Ministries
- Religious Education
- Missionary Studies
- Sacred Music
- Religious Institution Administration and Law
Philosophy and Religious Studies
11 programs across 4 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
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: 25-1126.00 (Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary).
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