Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. 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 Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of psychology teachers, postsecondary cover:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as abnormal psychology, cognitive processes, and work motivation.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Recruit and hire new faculty.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful psychology teachers, postsecondary rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Abnormal Psychology Teacher
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Professor
- Adjunct Psychology Faculty Member
- Adjunct Psychology Instructor
- Adjunct Psychology Professor
- Applied Psychology Professor
- Applied Psychology Teacher
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 529,292 psychology teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -3.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $98,479 |
| Hourly median | $47.35 |
| 10th percentile | $62,590 |
| 25th percentile | $80,534 |
| 75th percentile | $116,424 |
| 90th percentile | $134,368 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $106,470 |
| North Dakota | $100,340 |
| Maryland | $99,740 |
| New York | $98,630 |
| Connecticut | $98,390 |
| Oregon | $96,330 |
| Rhode Island | $90,820 |
| Michigan | $89,550 |
| New Jersey | $85,590 |
| New Hampshire | $84,540 |
| Texas | $81,880 |
| Louisiana | $81,640 |
| Delaware | $81,530 |
| Utah | $81,370 |
| Vermont | $81,140 |
| Minnesota | $80,760 |
| Virginia | $80,750 |
| Massachusetts | $80,300 |
| New Mexico | $80,260 |
| Nevada | $80,230 |
| Nebraska | $80,130 |
| Montana | $79,370 |
| Kansas | $79,240 |
| Indiana | $77,310 |
| Washington | $77,250 |
| Florida | $76,910 |
| Colorado | $76,850 |
| Georgia | $76,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,490 |
| Arizona | $76,460 |
| District of Columbia | $76,450 |
| Missouri | $76,400 |
| Alabama | $76,300 |
| Alaska | $75,820 |
| Iowa | $75,540 |
| Illinois | $75,350 |
| Idaho | $75,320 |
| Ohio | $75,300 |
| Maine | $75,060 |
| South Carolina | $74,510 |
| North Carolina | $74,190 |
| West Virginia | $73,390 |
| Tennessee | $73,360 |
| Kentucky | $72,380 |
| Wisconsin | $68,430 |
| Mississippi | $64,580 |
| Wyoming | $64,370 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,950 |
| Arkansas | $62,880 |
| South Dakota | $62,400 |
| Oklahoma | $60,870 |
| Hawaii | $49,850 |
Where Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Earn the Most
Earnings for psychology teachers, postsecondary vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $99,211 | 16.5% | 1.02 |
| Middle Atlantic | $89,994 | 21.1% | 1.44 |
| New England | $84,770 | 7.0% | 1.58 |
| Southwest | $78,927 | 11.1% | 0.90 |
| Plains States | $78,457 | 5.5% | 0.82 |
| Great Lakes | $77,486 | 14.4% | 1.12 |
| Rocky Mountains | $76,982 | 3.7% | 1.05 |
| Southeast | $75,426 | 19.4% | 0.82 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | CA | $164,770 | 100 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $137,070 | 140 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $133,830 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $130,830 | 440 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $129,830 | 170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $124,860 | 570 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $123,520 | 420 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $123,180 |
Top Industries Employing Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
The bulk of psychology teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 41,570 | n/a |
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (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)
- Analytical or scientific software: SAS (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of psychology teachers, postsecondary tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Getting Started in This Career
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
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- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for psychology teachers, postsecondary often complete programs in:
Psychology
30 programs across 4 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
3 programs across 3 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
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: 25-1066.00 (Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary).
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