Education and libraries
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Median pay
$84,290
Growth to 2035
+2%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,000
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
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
Sociology teachers, postsecondary: 65% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, measurement and data collection, and workplace social relations.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Also called: Adjunct Instructor · Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Faculty Member · Instructor · Lecturer · Professor · Social Science Instructor
Outlook and AI
Sociology teachers, postsecondary held 14,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 15,000 by 2035 (+2%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. History teachers, postsecondary
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Sociology teachers, postsecondary vs. Communications teachers, postsecondary