History Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Profile
Teach courses in human history and historiography. 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 History Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of history teachers, postsecondary include:
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as ancient history, postwar civilizations, and the history of third-world countries.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful history teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other History Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Adjunct Art History Professor
- Adjunct History Instructor
- Adjunct Instructor
- African History Professor
- American History Professor
- Art History Adjunct Professor
- Art History Instructor
- Assistant Professor
Job Outlook
There are about 1,148,630 history teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +10.5% over the projection horizon.
History Teachers, Postsecondary Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $38,484 |
| Hourly median | $18.50 |
| 10th percentile | $27,060 |
| 25th percentile | $32,772 |
| 75th percentile | $44,196 |
| 90th percentile | $49,908 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
History Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $121,020 |
| New Hampshire | $106,810 |
| Rhode Island | $106,240 |
| Arizona | $101,510 |
| New York | $101,180 |
| Massachusetts | $100,780 |
| New Jersey | $100,320 |
| Connecticut | $100,220 |
| Oregon | $97,680 |
| Montana | $92,550 |
| Maryland | $87,520 |
| Michigan | $86,230 |
| Maine | $85,950 |
| Illinois | $84,620 |
| Virginia | $82,930 |
| Wisconsin | $82,300 |
| Minnesota | $82,200 |
| Texas | $82,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,640 |
| New Mexico | $80,940 |
| Missouri | $80,430 |
| Vermont | $80,080 |
| Ohio | $79,870 |
| Indiana | $79,860 |
| Washington | $79,470 |
| Kansas | $79,380 |
| District of Columbia | $78,880 |
| Nebraska | $78,820 |
| Nevada | $78,620 |
| Utah | $78,110 |
| Colorado | $77,910 |
| Georgia | $77,500 |
| Iowa | $77,460 |
| South Carolina | $77,150 |
| North Carolina | $76,870 |
| Puerto Rico | $75,010 |
| Kentucky | $73,320 |
| Louisiana | $72,950 |
| Wyoming | $72,120 |
| Tennessee | $66,770 |
| Idaho | $66,240 |
| Oklahoma | $65,600 |
| South Dakota | $65,370 |
| Alaska | $65,060 |
| West Virginia | $64,710 |
| Mississippi | $64,660 |
| Alabama | $61,000 |
| Hawaii | $50,150 |
| Florida | $49,250 |
| Arkansas | $47,570 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for history 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 | $107,335 | 12.3% | 0.77 |
| New England | $99,404 | 8.3% | 1.78 |
| Middle Atlantic | $94,351 | 19.1% | 1.30 |
| Great Lakes | $82,623 | 11.1% | 0.79 |
| Southwest | $82,209 | 13.4% | 1.14 |
| Plains States | $79,711 | 5.6% | 0.87 |
| Rocky Mountains | $78,135 | 3.4% | 0.90 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $75,010 | 0.3% | 0.49 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $162,950 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $133,070 | 160 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $131,090 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $130,460 | 250 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $127,360 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $122,400 | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $119,920 | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $108,480 | 580 |
Top Industries Employing History Teachers, Postsecondary
The bulk of history teachers, postsecondary are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 19,840 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (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)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of history teachers, postsecondary tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
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
- Historians (Supplemental)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring history teachers, postsecondary often complete programs in:
History
9 programs across 1 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
7 programs across 5 majors
- History and Language/Literature
- Classical & Ancient Studies
- Medieval Studies
- History and Political Science
- Holocaust Studies
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
References
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: 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary).