Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Profile
Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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The Daily Work of Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of political science teachers, postsecondary cover:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as classical political thought, international relations, and democracy and citizenship.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top political science teachers, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Political Science Instructor
- Adjunct Political Science Professor
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
How Many Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
The U.S. employs around 1,468,323 political science teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +11.6% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $66,472 |
| Hourly median | $31.96 |
| 10th percentile | $39,855 |
| 25th percentile | $53,164 |
| 75th percentile | $79,781 |
| 90th percentile | $93,090 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $124,780 |
| New York | $121,600 |
| Maine | $111,260 |
| Montana | $107,330 |
| Connecticut | $104,500 |
| Massachusetts | $103,910 |
| Vermont | $103,150 |
| Michigan | $102,730 |
| District of Columbia | $100,070 |
| Maryland | $99,950 |
| Rhode Island | $99,700 |
| Texas | $98,790 |
| Arizona | $98,760 |
| New Jersey | $98,280 |
| Minnesota | $98,030 |
| Virginia | $97,970 |
| Illinois | $96,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $93,010 |
| Louisiana | $85,740 |
| Missouri | $83,960 |
| Tennessee | $83,770 |
| Nevada | $83,130 |
| Washington | $82,990 |
| Nebraska | $82,190 |
| Wisconsin | $81,770 |
| Wyoming | $81,570 |
| Indiana | $81,440 |
| South Carolina | $81,410 |
| North Carolina | $80,770 |
| West Virginia | $80,270 |
| Kentucky | $79,960 |
| Oregon | $79,710 |
| Iowa | $79,610 |
| Alabama | $79,340 |
| Georgia | $79,300 |
| Kansas | $78,410 |
| New Mexico | $77,380 |
| Ohio | $76,610 |
| Utah | $70,820 |
| Mississippi | $69,380 |
| South Dakota | $64,980 |
| Oklahoma | $63,350 |
| Arkansas | $62,710 |
| Florida | $58,690 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for political science teachers, postsecondary shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $105,815 | 10.7% | 0.75 |
| Middle Atlantic | $105,512 | 27.5% | 5.92 |
| Southwest | $97,301 | 14.2% | 1.20 |
| New England | $96,210 | 8.5% | 1.91 |
| Great Lakes | $87,422 | 12.9% | 1.08 |
| Plains States | $85,336 | 5.0% | 0.76 |
| Southeast | $80,300 | 20.1% | 0.98 |
| Rocky Mountains | $79,792 | 1.0% | 0.67 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $158,290 | 60 |
| El Paso, TX | TX | $134,510 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $132,700 | 1,180 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $131,880 | 140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $131,120 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $126,510 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $124,780 | 90 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $122,650 | 620 |
Top Industries Employing Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Most political science teachers, postsecondary are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 17,170 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- 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)
- Object or component oriented development software: R (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for political science teachers, postsecondary is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Sociologists (Supplemental)
- Political Scientists (Primary-Short)
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring political science teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Social Sciences
7 programs across 2 majors
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
3 programs across 1 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
2 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from 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: 25-1065.00 (Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary).
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