Education & Library
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Child Development Instructor, Dietetics Professor
US median pay
$75,870
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+2.4%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
200
3,400 employed
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, projects, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as food science, nutrition, and child care.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- 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.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Instructing4.0/5
- Systems Evaluation3.1/5
- Systems Analysis3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
Knowledge
- English Language4.6/5
- Education and Training4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- Psychology3.6/5
- Administration and Management3.6/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Doctoral degree48%
- Master's degree36%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.