Find Grad Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Physics Professor

Find Schools Near

All About Physics Postsecondary Professors

Physics Professor Definition Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Daily Life Of a Physics Professor

  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.

Qualities of a Physics Professor

These are the skills Physics Postsecondary Professors say are the most useful in their careers:

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

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

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

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.

Types of Physics Professor Jobs

  • Physical Science Professor
  • Nuclear Physics Professor
  • Astronomy Instructor
  • Astrophysics Teacher
  • Thermodynamics Professor

Are There Job Opportunities for Physics Postsecondary Professors?

In the United States, there were 17,600 jobs for Physics Professor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,800 new jobs for Physics Professor by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,600 yearly job openings in this field.

undefined

The states with the most job growth for Physics Professor are Utah, Colorado, and Washington. 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.

Average Physics Postsecondary Professors Salary

The salary for Physics Postsecondary Professors ranges between about $49,260 and $174,490 a year.

undefined

Physics Postsecondary Professors who work in California, Rhode Island, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.

How much do Physics Postsecondary Professors make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $85,990
Arizona $105,480
Arkansas $84,540
California $138,250
Colorado $91,120
Connecticut $85,550
District of Columbia $100,940
Florida $99,090
Georgia $85,300
Idaho $91,050
Illinois $92,130
Indiana $107,260
Iowa $111,510
Kansas $95,460
Kentucky $78,830
Louisiana $107,030
Maine $84,400
Maryland $134,200
Massachusetts $116,470
Michigan $98,870
Minnesota $99,980
Mississippi $84,430
Missouri $83,010
Nebraska $80,240
Nevada $77,840
New Hampshire $108,970
New Jersey $113,400
New York $117,370
North Carolina $87,410
North Dakota $94,610
Ohio $116,670
Oklahoma $85,930
Oregon $92,300
Pennsylvania $98,870
Rhode Island $109,370
South Carolina $96,840
South Dakota $77,260
Tennessee $88,090
Texas $103,980
Utah $93,800
Virginia $83,910
Washington $84,200
West Virginia $76,200
Wisconsin $84,200

What Tools do Physics Postsecondary Professors Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Physics Postsecondary Professors:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • Google Docs
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • C
  • Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
  • Calendar and scheduling software
  • Blackboard Learn
  • Learning management system LMS
  • Collaborative editing software
  • DOC Cop

How to Become a Physics Professor

What education or degrees do I need to become a Physics Professor?

undefined

How many years of work experience do I need?

undefined

Where Physics Postsecondary Professors Work

undefined

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

undefined

References:

Image Credit: A. T. Service via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Graduate Schools Near You

Our school finder matches students with accredited graduate schools across the U.S. for free.