Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Profile
Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. 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 Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of chemistry teachers, postsecondary span:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
- Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Adjunct Chemistry Instructor
- Adjunct Chemistry Professor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Analytical Chemistry Teacher
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Biochemistry Professor
- Chemical Educator
Job Outlook
There are about 371,879 chemistry teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +7.1% over the projection horizon.
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $69,509 |
| Hourly median | $33.42 |
| 10th percentile | $45,418 |
| 25th percentile | $57,464 |
| 75th percentile | $81,555 |
| 90th percentile | $93,601 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $132,250 |
| Kansas | $110,810 |
| North Dakota | $106,540 |
| Arizona | $106,430 |
| Utah | $105,090 |
| Nevada | $101,910 |
| New Jersey | $101,800 |
| New York | $101,610 |
| Minnesota | $100,000 |
| District of Columbia | $99,550 |
| Michigan | $98,910 |
| Rhode Island | $98,630 |
| Massachusetts | $98,050 |
| Oregon | $97,550 |
| Illinois | $95,270 |
| Maryland | $88,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,590 |
| Connecticut | $86,650 |
| Montana | $85,920 |
| New Hampshire | $85,860 |
| Wisconsin | $84,910 |
| Delaware | $84,170 |
| North Carolina | $83,390 |
| Iowa | $82,560 |
| Kentucky | $82,520 |
| Missouri | $82,390 |
| Georgia | $82,200 |
| New Mexico | $81,800 |
| Washington | $81,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $81,430 |
| Indiana | $81,010 |
| Tennessee | $80,650 |
| West Virginia | $80,560 |
| Louisiana | $80,540 |
| South Carolina | $80,310 |
| Texas | $79,830 |
| Wyoming | $79,720 |
| Oklahoma | $79,180 |
| Nebraska | $78,950 |
| Virginia | $78,780 |
| Idaho | $77,880 |
| Alabama | $77,200 |
| Mississippi | $77,100 |
| South Dakota | $76,770 |
| Colorado | $76,630 |
| Ohio | $75,920 |
| Arkansas | $67,450 |
| Vermont | $66,360 |
| Florida | $56,230 |
Where Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Earn the Most
Pay for chemistry teachers, postsecondary differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $118,536 | 11.3% | 0.74 |
| Middle Atlantic | $96,121 | 22.1% | 1.51 |
| Plains States | $90,471 | 7.6% | 1.12 |
| Great Lakes | $88,480 | 14.9% | 1.07 |
| Rocky Mountains | $87,700 | 4.0% | 1.04 |
| New England | $87,252 | 7.0% | 1.59 |
| Southwest | $82,261 | 10.2% | 0.84 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $81,430 | 1.0% | 1.63 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | WI | $174,050 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $152,150 | 260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $136,670 | 230 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $134,290 | 130 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $132,790 | 180 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $132,750 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $131,800 | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $130,750 | 480 |
Which Industries Hire Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
The largest employers of chemistry teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 20,360 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where chemistry teachers, postsecondary work:
Tech Stack
- 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)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
Work Environment
The work environment for chemistry teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How to Become Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
Entry-level chemistry teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Natural Sciences Managers (Supplemental)
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Biochemists and Biophysicists (Primary-Long)
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists (Supplemental)
- Chemists (Primary-Long)
- Biological Technicians (Supplemental)
- Chemical Technicians (Supplemental)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future chemistry teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Physical Sciences
14 programs across 3 majors
Education
2 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced 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: 25-1052.00 (Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary).