What Does it Take to Be a Physics Professor?
Position Description Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Life As a Physics Professor
- Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
- Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
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Physics Professor Needed Skills
Physics Postsecondary Professors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Other Physics Professor Job Titles
- Physics Instructor
- Nuclear Physics Professor
- Astrophysics Professor
- College or University Faculty Member
- Ballistics Teacher
Physics Professor Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 17,600 jobs for Physics Professor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,800 new jobs for Physics Professor by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,600 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Physics Professor are Utah, Colorado, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Vermont, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Physics Professor
Physics Postsecondary Professors make between $49,260 and $174,490 a year.

Physics Postsecondary Professors who work in California, Rhode Island, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.
How much do Physics Postsecondary Professors make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $85,990 |
Arizona | $105,480 |
Arkansas | $84,540 |
California | $138,250 |
Colorado | $91,120 |
Connecticut | $85,550 |
District of Columbia | $100,940 |
Florida | $99,090 |
Georgia | $85,300 |
Idaho | $91,050 |
Illinois | $92,130 |
Indiana | $107,260 |
Iowa | $111,510 |
Kansas | $95,460 |
Kentucky | $78,830 |
Louisiana | $107,030 |
Maine | $84,400 |
Maryland | $134,200 |
Massachusetts | $116,470 |
Michigan | $98,870 |
Minnesota | $99,980 |
Mississippi | $84,430 |
Missouri | $83,010 |
Nebraska | $80,240 |
Nevada | $77,840 |
New Hampshire | $108,970 |
New Jersey | $113,400 |
New York | $117,370 |
North Carolina | $87,410 |
North Dakota | $94,610 |
Ohio | $116,670 |
Oklahoma | $85,930 |
Oregon | $92,300 |
Pennsylvania | $98,870 |
Rhode Island | $109,370 |
South Carolina | $96,840 |
South Dakota | $77,260 |
Tennessee | $88,090 |
Texas | $103,980 |
Utah | $93,800 |
Virginia | $83,910 |
Washington | $84,200 |
West Virginia | $76,200 |
Wisconsin | $84,200 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Physics Postsecondary Professors
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Physics Postsecondary 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
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Google Docs
- Computer aided design CAD software
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- C
- Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Blackboard Learn
- Learning management system LMS
- iParadigms Turnitin
- DOC Cop
How do I Become a Physics Professor?
Are there Physics Postsecondary Professors education requirements?

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

Physics Postsecondary Professors Sector

Below are examples of industries where Physics Postsecondary Professors work:

References:
Image Credit: A. T. Service via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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