Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary: Job Description
Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Tasks Do Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
The core tasks performed by computer science teachers, postsecondary span:
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as programming, data structures, and software design.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top computer science teachers, postsecondary rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Computer Science Professor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- C++ Professor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Computer Applications Instructor
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 1,386,828 computer science teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -4.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $35,659 |
| Hourly median | $17.14 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $27,803 |
| 75th percentile | $43,516 |
| 90th percentile | $51,373 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $137,450 |
| Virginia | $124,850 |
| Connecticut | $109,470 |
| Massachusetts | $108,780 |
| Michigan | $105,200 |
| Illinois | $102,560 |
| Nevada | $102,340 |
| Maine | $101,100 |
| Utah | $100,340 |
| Wisconsin | $99,730 |
| New York | $99,330 |
| New Jersey | $98,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,600 |
| Texas | $98,280 |
| Maryland | $98,010 |
| New Hampshire | $97,250 |
| Oregon | $97,000 |
| Rhode Island | $95,750 |
| District of Columbia | $95,740 |
| Georgia | $95,260 |
| Vermont | $93,920 |
| Missouri | $91,120 |
| Alabama | $88,440 |
| Nebraska | $86,890 |
| Iowa | $86,130 |
| Tennessee | $85,680 |
| Indiana | $84,490 |
| Montana | $83,220 |
| South Carolina | $82,520 |
| Minnesota | $81,480 |
| Delaware | $81,350 |
| Oklahoma | $80,890 |
| Florida | $80,390 |
| Arizona | $80,230 |
| Washington | $80,110 |
| Kentucky | $79,780 |
| Idaho | $79,600 |
| Louisiana | $79,480 |
| North Dakota | $78,700 |
| Colorado | $78,370 |
| North Carolina | $77,800 |
| Ohio | $76,630 |
| New Mexico | $76,230 |
| West Virginia | $75,320 |
| Puerto Rico | $74,170 |
| South Dakota | $73,340 |
| Kansas | $70,880 |
| Arkansas | $64,750 |
| Hawaii | $64,370 |
| Mississippi | $64,190 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for computer science teachers, postsecondary shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $120,284 | 11.0% | 0.69 |
| New England | $106,323 | 6.4% | 1.43 |
| Middle Atlantic | $98,480 | 20.7% | 1.37 |
| Southwest | $93,545 | 13.3% | 1.08 |
| Great Lakes | $92,640 | 13.0% | 0.98 |
| Southeast | $91,306 | 24.5% | 1.17 |
| Rocky Mountains | $84,838 | 4.1% | 1.14 |
| Plains States | $83,603 | 6.0% | 0.93 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $166,630 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $163,920 | 410 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $161,710 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $161,010 | 330 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $154,420 | 250 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | IL | $140,320 | 250 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $139,380 | 70 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $136,490 | 160 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of computer science teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 36,220 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary Use
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C# (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (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)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of computer science teachers, postsecondary tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Entry-level computer science teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Managers (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Computer Systems Analysts (Supplemental)
- Computer and Information Research Scientists (Primary-Long)
- Computer Programmers (Supplemental)
- Software Developers (Primary-Long)
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects (Primary-Long)
- Computer Hardware Engineers (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring computer science teachers, postsecondary typically earn programs in:
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
10 programs across 7 majors
- Computer Science
- Computer Information Systems
- Information Science
- Computer Systems Networking
- Computer Programming
- Computer Systems Analysis
- Computer Software Applications
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
6 programs across 6 majors
- Computational Science
- Human Computer Interaction
- Mathematics & Computer Science
- Economics and Computer Science
- Accounting & Computer Science
- Linguistics and Computer Science
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
4 programs across 1 majors
Education
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: 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary).
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