Education and libraries
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Median pay
$78,620
Growth to 2035
+2%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
8,000
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary: 48% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as acting techniques, fundamentals of music, and art history.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Also called: Art History Professor · Art Instructor · Art Professor · Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Instructor · Music Instructor · Music Professor
Outlook and AI
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary held 116,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 119,500 by 2035 (+2%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. Self-enrichment teacher
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. Instructional coordinator
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. Music directors and composers
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary vs. Choreographer