Postsecondary Physics Teachers: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Physics Professors

Physics Professors 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.

Salary
$101290
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Doctoral degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Postsecondary Physics Teachers 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.

  • Evaluate and grade students’ class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
Read more about what does a Postsecondary Physics Teacher really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$103830 per year


Physics Professors with little to no experience tend to make between $49260 and $65360 while the more experienced ones can earn over $126910 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
CA $- $138,250
MD $- $134,200
NY $- $117,370
OH $- $116,670
MA $- $116,470

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Postsecondary Physics Teacher is to move to a higher paying state like CA. Right now, the highest paying states for Physics Professors are CA, MD, NY, OH and MA.

However, a higher pay at CA doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at CA might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Postsecondary Physics Teacher is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Doctoral degree

We asked other Physics Professors what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a PhD followed by a Master’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
Physics Teacher Education
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other
Chemical Physics
Physics, General
Read more about how to become a Postsecondary Physics Teacher and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Postsecondary Physics Teacher.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
Suitable for people who values achievements and are results-oriented
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers)
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to follow routines
It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
83%

Is this job meaningful
83%


83% of Physics Professors said they were satisfied with their job and 83% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Helpers and The Thinkers

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.



Learn more about Physics Professors

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Physics Professors job description, Physics Professors salary, Physics Professors information, what is the job of a Postsecondary Physics Teacher like, pros and cons about Postsecondary Physics Teachers, colleges and universities for Postsecondary Physics Teachers, is Postsecondary Physics Teachers the right career for me, careers in Education

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