Economics Teachers, Postsecondary: Job Description
Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Perform?
The core tasks performed by economics teachers, postsecondary cover:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- 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.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful economics teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Accounting Lecturer
- Adjunct Economics Instructor
- Adjunct Economics Professor
- Adjunct Professor
- Agricultural Economics Professor
- Agricultural Economics Teacher
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
How Many Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
There are roughly 807,075 economics teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +2.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $69,831 |
| Hourly median | $33.57 |
| 10th percentile | $41,396 |
| 25th percentile | $55,613 |
| 75th percentile | $84,048 |
| 90th percentile | $98,265 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $154,840 |
| Connecticut | $136,630 |
| Massachusetts | $135,070 |
| District of Columbia | $134,620 |
| New York | $134,480 |
| California | $133,230 |
| Arizona | $131,710 |
| Maryland | $128,150 |
| Virginia | $127,420 |
| New Jersey | $127,050 |
| Illinois | $125,230 |
| Michigan | $123,840 |
| Texas | $121,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $120,010 |
| Maine | $118,150 |
| Alabama | $116,190 |
| North Carolina | $109,890 |
| Iowa | $108,320 |
| Kentucky | $107,810 |
| Georgia | $107,680 |
| Vermont | $107,040 |
| New Mexico | $105,570 |
| Tennessee | $104,760 |
| Minnesota | $103,920 |
| Wisconsin | $103,740 |
| Oregon | $103,560 |
| Oklahoma | $102,930 |
| Indiana | $102,780 |
| Utah | $102,590 |
| Idaho | $102,100 |
| Delaware | $101,670 |
| South Carolina | $101,110 |
| Arkansas | $100,110 |
| Kansas | $99,320 |
| Colorado | $98,060 |
| Ohio | $96,840 |
| Mississippi | $95,420 |
| West Virginia | $86,250 |
| Washington | $85,630 |
| Florida | $56,560 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for economics 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $129,151 | 22.8% | 1.59 |
| New England | $124,665 | 11.7% | 2.44 |
| Far Western US | $122,729 | 11.7% | 0.74 |
| Southwest | $119,584 | 9.3% | 0.75 |
| Great Lakes | $113,582 | 13.3% | 0.94 |
| Southeast | $100,659 | 22.4% | 0.99 |
| Rocky Mountains | $99,990 | 4.0% | 1.11 |
| Plains States | $77,008 | 4.9% | 0.91 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $186,670 | 60 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | TX | $168,620 | 60 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | TX | $162,440 | 120 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $162,050 | 550 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $157,180 | 1,030 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $155,870 | 320 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $153,130 | 140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $145,190 | 170 |
Top Industries Employing Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
Most economics teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 12,420 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where economics teachers, postsecondary work:
Software Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Use
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (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)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Python (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: R (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of economics teachers, postsecondary tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Sitting
How to Become Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Economists (Primary-Short)
- Environmental Economists (Supplemental)
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future economics teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Social Sciences
7 programs across 2 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
4 programs across 4 majors
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- Mathematical Economics
- Economics and Computer Science
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Natural Resources and Conservation
1 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on 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: 25-1063.00 (Economics Teachers, Postsecondary).