The median pay for Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary is $75,870 a year, according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 2.4% through 2035, with about 200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 25-1192
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary in four numbers
- Median pay
- $75,870a yearBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $131K
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
- 2003,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20253.4K
- Projected 20353.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 3.4K Projected 2035 3.5K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate1.9%
- Some college1%
- Bachelor's3.7%
- Post-bacc certificate7.9%
- Master's36.5%
- Doctorate48%
Highest education held by family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary Segment Value Certificate 1.9% Some college 1% Bachelor's 3.7% Post-bacc certificate 7.9% Master's 36.5% Doctorate 48%
Also advertised as: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Child Development Instructor, Dietetics Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences Professor (FCS Professor), Food and Nutrition Professor.
Pay
How much do Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Every family and consumer sciences teacher, postsecondary in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$75,870
Middle half earn $57,410 to $99,320
- 10th
- $47,830
- 25th
- $57,410
- 75th
- $99,320
- 90th
- $130,790
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,830 |
| 25th | $57,410 |
| Median | $75,870 |
| 75th | $99,320 |
| 90th | $130,790 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $75,870
- Median hourly wage
- N/A
- Mean annual wage
- $81,940
- People employed
- 2,770
Versus all US occupations
At $75,870, Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn 49% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $24,890 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 11% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $130,790 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,830, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 51% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($97,620), but once local prices are taken into account Oklahoma leads at $94,714 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Family and Consumer Sciences 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $97,620 | $88,168 | 380 |
| 2Michigan | $83,500 | $86,783 | 50 |
| 3Ohio | $83,400 | $89,896 | 90 |
| 4Oklahoma | $83,200 | $94,714 | 60 |
| 5Illinois | $80,220 | $80,254 | 140 |
| 6Rhode Island | $80,200 | $78,412 | 40 |
| 7Iowa | $79,310 | $90,369 | 40 |
| 8North Carolina | $78,770 | $83,508 | 290 |
| 9Pennsylvania | $78,220 | $80,166 | 100 |
| 10Utah | $76,790 | $77,672 | 190 |
Job outlook
Is Family and Consumer Sciences 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 |
|---|---|
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | +2.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary to change 2.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 200 openings are projected each year, 5.9% of the 3,400 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 a Family and Consumer Sciences 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 family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary.
- Doctoral Degree48%
- Master's Degree36.5%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate7.9%
- Bachelor's Degree3.7%
- Post-Secondary Certificate1.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 48% |
| Master's Degree | 36.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 7.9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 3.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 1.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary do?
Teach courses in childcare, family relations, finance, nutrition, and related subjects pertaining to home management. 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
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, projects, assignments, and papers.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
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 timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict 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
- Learning Strategies4.0
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.6
- Active Learning3.6
- Monitoring3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Instructing4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Time Management3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer based training software
- Data base management system software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
- Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
- Web page creation and editing 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 a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 7 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
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.
- Social7.0
- Investigative4.8
- Artistic3.5
- Conventional3.4
- Realistic2.9
- Enterprising2.8
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
Careers related to Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary
O*NET related occupations
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More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary$75,870
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary | $75,870 |
| 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 Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary appears on
Questions
Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary: frequently asked questions
How much do Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $75,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 49% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. The middle half earn between $57,410 and $99,320. The top 10% earn $130,790 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 48.0% hold doctoral degree.
Is Family and Consumer Sciences 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 200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary do?
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. A core O*NET task: keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Presentation software.
Which states pay Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
The highest state medians for Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary are California ($97,620), Michigan ($83,500), Ohio ($83,400) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Oklahoma moves to the top at $94,714.
What personality type suits a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET scores Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary highest on the Social, Investigative and Artistic 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, ENFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.