Education & Library
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Humanities Professor, Instructor
US median pay
$80,260
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+2%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
1,800
26,800 employed
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. 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, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- 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.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Write articles and books.
- Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Instructing4.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.5/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4/5
- Systems Evaluation3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Philosophy and Theology4.8/5
- English Language4.6/5
- Education and Training4.2/5
- History and Archeology3.5/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.1/5
- Law and Government3.0/5
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 degree74%
- Master's degree13%
- Post-doctoral training12%
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.