What You Need to Know About Sociology Professors

Job Description & Duties Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Life As a Sociology Professor

• Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
• Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
• Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
• Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
• Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
• Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

Qualities of a Sociology Professor

Below is a list of the skills most Sociology Professors say are important on the job.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Types of Sociology Professor Jobs

• Assistant Professor
• Adjunct Instructor
• Professor
• Marriage and Family Teacher
• Sociology Faculty Member

Is There Job Demand for Sociology Professors?

In the United States, there were 17,900 jobs for Sociology Professors in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.8% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,800 new jobs for Sociology Professors by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,600 positions for Sociology Professor per year.

The states with the most job growth for Sociology Professors are New York, Texas, and California.

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 Sociology Professors

The salary for Sociology Professors ranges between about $38,440 and $138,500 a year. The median salary is $74,140.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
District of Columbia	$146,220
Rhode Island	$116,720
California	$103,600
Ohio	$98,010
New Jersey	$94,620
Arkansas	$93,550
Missouri	$93,490
Utah	$92,950
Arizona	$92,790
New Hampshire	$92,180
New York	$90,250
Iowa	$90,000
Florida	$89,790
Georgia	$88,790
Maryland	$87,410
Massachusetts	$85,270
Wisconsin	$84,930
Texas	$82,580
Connecticut	$82,570
Michigan	$82,320
Oregon	$82,240
Delaware	$81,740
Minnesota	$81,490
Pennsylvania	$80,290
Indiana	$78,640
Illinois	$78,290
North Carolina	$77,720
Virginia	$73,710
Nebraska	$72,750
Kansas	$72,740
Washington	$72,020
Nevada	$70,990
Kentucky	$70,790
Mississippi	$69,580
Maine	$69,560
Colorado	$68,900
Alabama	$68,630
South Dakota	$65,340
South Carolina	$65,010
Oklahoma	$60,730
Montana	$51,920
West Virginia	$49,580
Tennessee	$43,390

What Tools & Technology do Sociology Professors Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sociology Professors may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• IBM SPSS Statistics
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• R
• Data entry software
• Microsoft Office
• SAS
• Google Docs

Becoming a Sociology Professor

Learn what Sociology Professor education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Sociology Professors Work

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those thinking about becoming Sociology Professors might also be interested in the following careers:

• Foreign Language and Literature Professors

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons