Economics Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $123,920 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 2.4% through 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 25-1063
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Economics Teacher, Postsecondary in four numbers
- Median pay
- $123,920a yearBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $64KTop 10% $224K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.4%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,00014,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202514.6K
- Projected 203515K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 14.6K Projected 2035 15K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's2.2%
- Master's7.4%
- Post-master’s certificate9.7%
- Doctorate80.8%
Highest education held by economics teachers, postsecondary Segment Value Bachelor's 2.2% Master's 7.4% Post-master’s certificate 9.7% Doctorate 80.8%
Also advertised as: Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Economics Instructor, Economics Lecturer, Economics Professor.
Pay
How much do Economics Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Every economics teacher, postsecondary in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$123,920
Middle half earn $86,840 to $168,770
- 10th
- $64,060
- 25th
- $86,840
- 75th
- $168,770
- 90th
- $224,200
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $64,060 |
| 25th | $86,840 |
| Median | $123,920 |
| 75th | $168,770 |
| 90th | $224,200 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $123,920
- Median hourly wage
- N/A
- Mean annual wage
- $138,850
- People employed
- 11,560
Versus all US occupations
At $123,920, Economics Teachers, Postsecondary earn 143% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $72,940 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 82% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $224,200 or more while the bottom 10% earn $64,060, a gap of 3.5×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 86% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Hampshire pays the most at $201,610, and still leads at $193,549 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Economics Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Hampshire | $201,610 | $193,549 | 80 |
| 2Massachusetts | $164,410 | $155,460 | 750 |
| 3District of Columbia | $161,860 | $147,278 | 220 |
| 4Connecticut | $155,950 | $150,516 | 300 |
| 5California | $137,360 | $124,061 | 770 |
| 6Arizona | $137,250 | $136,327 | 100 |
| 7Oregon | $136,450 | $132,013 | 180 |
| 8Vermont | $134,850 | $137,661 | 80 |
| 9Maryland | $133,540 | $127,231 | 200 |
| 10Louisiana | $132,670 | $150,408 | 70 |
Job outlook
Is Economics Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | +2.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Economics Teachers, Postsecondary to change 2.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,000 openings are projected each year, 6.8% of the 14,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
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.
Projected employment of postsecondary teachers varies by occupation (see table). Both part-time and full-time postsecondary teachers are included in these projections.
The number of people attending postsecondary institutions is expected to grow over the projections decade. Students will continue to seek higher education to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to meet their career goals. As more people enter colleges and universities, more postsecondary teachers will be needed to serve these additional students. Colleges and universities are likely to hire more part-time teachers to meet this demand. In all disciplines, there is expected to be a limited number of full-time nontenure and full-time tenure positions.
Getting in
How to become an Economics Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in their field. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges. Other postsecondary teachers may need work experience in their field of expertise.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as economics teachers, postsecondary.
- Doctoral Degree80.8%
- Post-Master's Certificate9.7%
- Master's Degree7.4%
- Bachelor's Degree2.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 80.8% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 9.7% |
| Master's Degree | 7.4% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 2.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Economics Teacher, Postsecondary do?
Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.
Day-to-day tasks
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most postsecondary teachers work full time, although part-time work is common. Postsecondary teachers who work part time may offer instruction at several colleges or universities. Some have a full-time job in their field of expertise in addition to a part-time teaching position. For example, an active lawyer or judge might teach an evening course at a law school.
College and university courses are generally during the day, although some are offered in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate students who have jobs or other obligations.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Learning Strategies3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Mathematics3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Instructing4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Time Management2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer based training software
- Financial analysis software
- Information retrieval or search software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Economics Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Economics Teacher, Postsecondary |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social6.2
- Investigative5.6
- Conventional3.9
- Enterprising3.4
- Artistic3.0
- Realistic2.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
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More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with economics teachers, postsecondary highlighted
- Economics Teacher, Postsecondary$123,920
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Economics Teacher, Postsecondary | $123,920 |
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Economics Teacher, Postsecondary appears on
Questions
Economics Teacher, Postsecondary: frequently asked questions
How much do Economics Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $123,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 143% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. The middle half earn between $86,840 and $168,770. The top 10% earn $224,200 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Economics Teacher, Postsecondary?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Economics Teachers, Postsecondary. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 80.8% hold doctoral degree.
Is Economics Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.4% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Economics Teacher, Postsecondary do?
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. A core O*NET task: maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Economics Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
The highest state medians for Economics Teachers, Postsecondary are New Hampshire ($201,610), Massachusetts ($164,410), District of Columbia ($161,860) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Economics Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET scores Economics Teachers, Postsecondary highest on the Social, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFJ, INFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.