Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary: Job Description
Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of psychology teachers, postsecondary cover:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as abnormal psychology, cognitive processes, and work motivation.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Recruit and hire new faculty.
Skills and Knowledge
Top psychology teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Abnormal Psychology Teacher
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Professor
- Adjunct Psychology Faculty Member
- Adjunct Psychology Instructor
- Adjunct Psychology Professor
- Applied Psychology Professor
- Applied Psychology Teacher
How Many Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
There are roughly 529,292 psychology teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -3.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $98,479 |
| Hourly median | $47.35 |
| 10th percentile | $62,590 |
| 25th percentile | $80,534 |
| 75th percentile | $116,424 |
| 90th percentile | $134,368 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $106,470 |
| North Dakota | $100,340 |
| Maryland | $99,740 |
| New York | $98,630 |
| Connecticut | $98,390 |
| Oregon | $96,330 |
| Rhode Island | $90,820 |
| Michigan | $89,550 |
| New Jersey | $85,590 |
| New Hampshire | $84,540 |
| Texas | $81,880 |
| Louisiana | $81,640 |
| Delaware | $81,530 |
| Utah | $81,370 |
| Vermont | $81,140 |
| Minnesota | $80,760 |
| Virginia | $80,750 |
| Massachusetts | $80,300 |
| New Mexico | $80,260 |
| Nevada | $80,230 |
| Nebraska | $80,130 |
| Montana | $79,370 |
| Kansas | $79,240 |
| Indiana | $77,310 |
| Washington | $77,250 |
| Florida | $76,910 |
| Colorado | $76,850 |
| Georgia | $76,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,490 |
| Arizona | $76,460 |
| District of Columbia | $76,450 |
| Missouri | $76,400 |
| Alabama | $76,300 |
| Alaska | $75,820 |
| Iowa | $75,540 |
| Illinois | $75,350 |
| Idaho | $75,320 |
| Ohio | $75,300 |
| Maine | $75,060 |
| South Carolina | $74,510 |
| North Carolina | $74,190 |
| West Virginia | $73,390 |
| Tennessee | $73,360 |
| Kentucky | $72,380 |
| Wisconsin | $68,430 |
| Mississippi | $64,580 |
| Wyoming | $64,370 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,950 |
| Arkansas | $62,880 |
| South Dakota | $62,400 |
| Oklahoma | $60,870 |
| Hawaii | $49,850 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for psychology teachers, postsecondary shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $99,211 | 16.5% | 1.02 |
| Middle Atlantic | $89,994 | 21.1% | 1.44 |
| New England | $84,770 | 7.0% | 1.58 |
| Southwest | $78,927 | 11.1% | 0.90 |
| Plains States | $78,457 | 5.5% | 0.82 |
| Great Lakes | $77,486 | 14.4% | 1.12 |
| Rocky Mountains | $76,982 | 3.7% | 1.05 |
| Southeast | $75,426 | 19.4% | 0.82 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | CA | $164,770 | 100 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $137,070 | 140 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $133,830 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $130,830 | 440 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $129,830 | 170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $124,860 | 570 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $123,520 | 420 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $123,180 |
Top Industries Employing Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Most psychology teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 41,570 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (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: R (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: SAS (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 psychology teachers, postsecondary is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How to Become Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- School Psychologists (Supplemental)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for psychology teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Psychology
30 programs across 4 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
3 programs across 3 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes 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: 25-1066.00 (Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.