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For Educators: Military Resources
For Educators: Military Resources

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Median Salary
98,020
Job Outlook
-8%

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

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.

What is the job outlook?

Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. About 118,900 openings for postsecondary teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$56,050

10%

$98,020

Median

$125,440

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • Doctoral degree

    53%

  • Master's degree

    25%

  • Post-doctoral training

    20%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • Physics, General
  • Health/Medical Physics
  • Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
  • Optics/Optical Sciences
  • Physics, Other
  • Physics Teacher Education
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Nuclear Physics
  • Chemical Physics
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other
  • Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
  • Atomic/Molecular Physics
  • Acoustics
  • Elementary Particle Physics
  • Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

Skills and Interest

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

Skills

  • Verbal Skills

    High

  • Leadership

    High

  • Math and Science Skills

    High

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    High

  • Technology Design and Control

    Mid

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    Mid

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

Workplace

  • Level Of Competition

    High

  • Time Pressure

    Mid

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    Low

  • Repetitiveness

    Low

  • Responsibility

    Low

  • Decision Making

    Low

  • Physical Activity

    Low

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Social

You love connecting with people, helping others and making a difference in your community.

Investigative

You love figuring out how things work and researching subjects that interest you.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.