Education · Career brief

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$100,310

High national median pay

2025 national median. Top quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

2.4%

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

1,100

Low national opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Bottom quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

Professional degree

Long formal preparation is part of the path

Doctoral or professional degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

People-centered

Helping, teaching, or working directly with people matters

Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (16,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is pay; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if people-centered work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a professional-degree path. Main tradeoff: This is a small national occupation (16,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median…

Before choosing, compare:Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Physics Teachers, Postsecondary with another field Explore rankings in Education Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$100,310

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

2.4%employment growth1,100openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Doctoral or professional degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

16,400

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Physics teachers, postsecondary (25-1054).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (16,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Training and Teaching Others4.7
Working with Computers4.6
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.5
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.5
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.4

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Social6.1
Investigative6.0
Realistic3.8
Conventional3.6
Artistic3.3
Enterprising2.4

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Mathematics Physics Computers and Electronics Chemistry

Software and tools named in job postings

Learning management system LMS

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Tutor the same learner more than once, check what they actually understood, and change the explanation when the first approach fails.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Physics teachers, postsecondary nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Reading Comprehension, Science, Speaking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include Learning management system LMS; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options