College Professor Career Guide

What Does a College Professor Do?

College professors (also called postsecondary teachers or faculty) instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. They teach courses, conduct research, publish scholarly work, and contribute to their academic fields while mentoring the next generation of professionals.

On a typical day, professors might teach lectures or seminars, hold office hours to advise students, conduct research experiments, write grant proposals, publish academic papers, serve on committees, and collaborate with colleagues. Work varies significantly between research universities and teaching-focused community colleges.

Key responsibilities include:

• Teaching courses and developing syllabi that meet institutional standards
• Planning lessons, assignments, and assessments for students
• Grading papers, exams, and projects to evaluate student progress
• Advising students on course selection and career goals
• Conducting original research and publishing findings
• Applying for grants to fund research projects
• Serving on academic or administrative committees
• Staying current with developments in their field

Education & Requirements

• Typical Education: Ph.D. or other doctoral degree required for 4-year colleges and universities. Master's degree may suffice for community colleges or part-time positions. Doctoral programs typically take 5-7 years post-bachelor's.
• Certifications: Field-specific credentials may be required (e.g., nursing license for nursing professors, teaching license for education professors). No universal teaching certification required.
• Key Skills: Subject matter expertise, critical thinking, research methodology, public speaking, writing, interpersonal communication, curriculum development, resourcefulness.
• Experience: Teaching experience as graduate teaching assistant preferred. Some fields require work experience (e.g., law, healthcare, business). Postdoctoral research common in sciences.

Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data for Postsecondary Teachers):

• Median Annual Salary: $83,980 (hourly not reported due to varied academic calendars)
• Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,570
• Experienced (90th percentile): $199,520
• By Institution Type: Private colleges/universities ($91,310), Local junior colleges ($87,310), State colleges/universities ($85,650), State junior colleges ($64,600)
• Highest-Paying Fields: Law ($126,650), Economics ($119,980), Engineering ($106,120), Health specialties ($105,620)

Job Outlook & Growth

Employment is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth translates to approximately 96,700 new jobs over the decade, with about 114,000 total openings annually when including replacement needs.

Growth drivers include:

• Higher education enrollment: Continued demand as students pursue degrees for career advancement
• Healthcare demand: Growing need for health specialties and nursing instructors (17% growth)
• Aging population: Older workers seeking retraining and lifelong learning opportunities
• Part-time positions: Colleges hiring more adjunct professors to meet flexible teaching needs

Note: Public college employment depends on state and local government budgets. Limited full-time tenure-track positions expected across most disciplines.

How to Break Into This Field

1. Education: Complete a Ph.D. in your subject area (typically requires bachelor's, then 5-7 years of doctoral study including dissertation). Some fields accept master's degrees, especially at community colleges.
2. Entry-Level Roles: Start as adjunct instructor (part-time), visiting professor, lecturer, or postdoctoral researcher. Gain teaching experience as graduate teaching assistant during doctoral program.
3. Build Skills: Develop teaching portfolio, publish research in peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences, gain diverse teaching experience. Consider postdoctoral positions (2-3 years) in research-intensive fields.
4. Network: Attend academic conferences in your field, join professional associations (discipline-specific), connect with faculty during graduate school, present research publicly.
5. Apply Strategically: Monitor HigherEdJobs.com, Chronicle of Higher Education job board, and academic association listings. Target institutions matching your research/teaching focus (R1 research universities vs. teaching colleges).

Career Path & Advancement

Typical progression: Graduate teaching assistant → Adjunct/Lecturer → Assistant professor → Associate professor → Full professor → Endowed chair or Dean/Department head.

Tenure track: Assistant professors work 5-7 years toward tenure (permanent position) based on research, teaching, and service. Tenured professors can advance to associate and full professor ranks. Some move into administrative roles like department chair, dean, or university president.

Pros & Cons

Related Careers

If you're interested in College Professor, you might also consider:

• Researcher/Scientist – Focus on research without teaching obligations (varies by field)
• Instructional Coordinator – Develop curriculum and teaching standards ($74,720 median)
• Postsecondary Education Administrator – Oversee academic programs and student services ($103,960 median)
• Career/Technical Education Teacher – Teach vocational subjects ($62,910 median)
• Training and Development Manager – Corporate training role leveraging teaching skills