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Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
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.
Other titles employers use
Adjunct Professor · Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Instructor · Physical Science Professor · Physics Instructor · Physics Lecturer · Physics Professor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and practical work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Science
- Active Listening
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.8 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.5 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.1 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 75%
- A master's degree 25%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Development environment software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 1,900
- Job openings each year
- 150
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 11.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,900 | 150 | 11.8% |
| New York | 1,620 | 30 | 21.8% |
| Texas | 1,390 | 120 | 9.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 800 | 60 | 1.3% |
| New Jersey | 700 | 60 | 9.4% |
| Illinois | 630 | 50 | 1.6% |
| Michigan | 580 | 50 | 5.5% |
| Florida | 530 | 40 | 8.2% |
| Virginia | 500 | 40 | 4.2% |
| Maryland | 460 | 40 | 12.2% |
| Colorado | 420 | 40 | 20.0% |
| Tennessee | 410 | 40 | 20.6% |
| Wisconsin | 410 | 30 | 7.9% |
| Washington | 400 | 40 | 11.1% |
| Ohio | 370 | 30 | 2.8% |
| North Carolina | 360 | 30 | 12.5% |
| Alabama | 300 | 30 | 7.1% |
| Indiana | 260 | 20 | 4.0% |
| Connecticut | 220 | 20 | 10.0% |
| Georgia | 210 | 20 | 10.5% |
| Iowa | 210 | 20 | 10.5% |
| Missouri | 210 | 20 | 5.0% |
| South Carolina | 210 | 20 | 10.5% |
| Massachusetts | 200 | 20 | 11.1% |
| Arizona | 170 | 10 | 6.3% |
| Minnesota | 170 | 20 | — |
| Utah | 160 | 10 | 23.1% |
| Oregon | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| District of Columbia | 140 | 10 | — |
| Delaware | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Puerto Rico | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Arkansas | 100 | 10 | — |
| Kentucky | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Louisiana | 100 | 10 | — |
| Nebraska | 100 | 10 | — |
| Kansas | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Maine | 90 | 10 | — |
| Oklahoma | 90 | 10 | — |
| Nevada | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Idaho | 60 | 10 | — |
| New Mexico | 60 | 0 | — |
| West Virginia | 60 | 10 | — |
| Montana | 50 | 0 | — |
| South Dakota | 40 | 0 | — |
| Vermont | 40 | 0 | — |
| Wyoming | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of California-Santa Barbara
- Degrees each year
- 297
- Admit rate
- 28%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Degrees each year
- 565
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of California-Berkeley
- Degrees each year
- 487
- Admit rate
- 12%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of California-Irvine
- Degrees each year
- 610
- Admit rate
- 26%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
The University of Texas at Austin
- Degrees each year
- 512
- Admit rate
- 29%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 437
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of California-San Diego
- Degrees each year
- 633
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Maryland-College Park
- Degrees each year
- 551
- Admit rate
- 45%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000