Education & Library
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Adjunct Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Clinical Psychology Professor
US median pay
$80,340
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
3,700
52,300 employed
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What they do day to day
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as abnormal psychology, cognitive processes, and work motivation.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Recruit and hire new faculty.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- 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
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Systems Evaluation3.1/5
- Systems Analysis3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
Knowledge
- Psychology5.0/5
- English Language4.8/5
- Education and Training4.3/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.9/5
- Mathematics3.8/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.8/5
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 degree55%
- Post-doctoral training31%
- Master's degree15%
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.