What You Need to Know About Physics Professor
Example of Physics Professor Job 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.
List of Physics Professor Job Duties
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Physics Professor?
When polled, Physics Postsecondary Professors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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
- Astronomy Teacher
- Physical Optics Teacher
- Aerodynamics Teacher
- Thermodynamics Teacher
- Ballistics Teacher
Physics Professor Job Outlook
There were about 17,600 jobs for Physics Professor in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,600 job openings in this field each year.

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.
Physics Professor Salary
The average yearly salary of a Physics Professor ranges between $49,260 and $174,490.

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 to Become a Physics Professor
What kind of Physics Professor requirements are there?

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

Who Employs Physics Postsecondary Professors?

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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