Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $98,070 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 2.5% through 2035, with about 1,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 25-1065
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary in four numbers
- Median pay
- $98,070a yearBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $56KTop 10% $175K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.5%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,50021,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202521.5K
- Projected 203522K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 21.5K Projected 2035 22K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Master's3.5%
- Doctorate96.5%
Highest education held by political science teachers, postsecondary Segment Value Master's 3.5% Doctorate 96.5%
Also advertised as: Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Faculty Member, Government Professor, Instructor.
Pay
How much do Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Every political science teacher, postsecondary in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$98,070
Middle half earn $73,260 to $129,130
- 10th
- $56,450
- 25th
- $73,260
- 75th
- $129,130
- 90th
- $174,660
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $56,450 |
| 25th | $73,260 |
| Median | $98,070 |
| 75th | $129,130 |
| 90th | $174,660 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $98,070
- Median hourly wage
- N/A
- Mean annual wage
- $108,100
- People employed
- 16,970
Versus all US occupations
At $98,070, Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn 92% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $47,090 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 44% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $174,660 or more while the bottom 10% earn $56,450, a gap of 3.1×. 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 71% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $128,150, and still leads at $121,174 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Political Science 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $128,150 | $121,174 | 920 |
| 2California | $124,890 | $112,798 | 1,060 |
| 3New Hampshire | $124,110 | $119,148 | 90 |
| 4Montana | $109,050 | $115,220 | N/A |
| 5Vermont | $107,490 | $109,731 | 80 |
| 6Michigan | $107,060 | $111,269 | 380 |
| 7Maryland | $105,630 | $100,639 | 370 |
| 8New York | $104,050 | $96,413 | 1,460 |
| 9District of Columbia | $102,310 | $93,093 | 1,120 |
| 10Virginia | $101,430 | $100,322 | 830 |
Job outlook
Is Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +2.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | +2.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary to change 2.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,500 openings are projected each year, 7.0% of the 21,500 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 Political Science 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 political science teachers, postsecondary.
- Doctoral Degree96.5%
- Master's Degree3.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 96.5% |
| Master's Degree | 3.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary do?
Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. 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.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- 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 dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors 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
- Speaking4.6
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Active Learning4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Learning Strategies3.9
- Monitoring3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Instructing4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.1
- Persuasion3.1
- Service Orientation3.0
- Time Management3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Development environment 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
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Computer based training software
- Data mining software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser 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 Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| 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.
- Social6.9
- Investigative5.5
- Artistic3.7
- Enterprising3.3
- Conventional3.0
- Realistic1.9
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 Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teacher, Postsecondary
$85,020median a year
Most earn $52K to $160K
+2.7%Doctorate
More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with political science teachers, postsecondary highlighted
- Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary$98,070
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary | $98,070 |
| 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 Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary appears on
Questions
Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary: frequently asked questions
How much do Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $98,070 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 92% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. The middle half earn between $73,260 and $129,130. The top 10% earn $174,660 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 96.5% hold doctoral degree.
Is Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.5% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Political Science 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 Development environment software, Electronic mail software, Object or component oriented development software.
Which states pay Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
The highest state medians for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary are Massachusetts ($128,150), California ($124,890), New Hampshire ($124,110) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET scores Political Science 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, ENFP, 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.