Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Biochemistry Professor · Chemistry Faculty Member · Chemistry Instructor · Chemistry Professor
Median pay (national)
$86,220
$52,870–$171,600 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
20,390
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.2%
~1,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
Doctoral or professional degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for chemistry teachers, postsecondary shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $171,600 versus $52,870 at the bottom 10% — 3.2x. The median of $86,220 leaves roughly 99% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.2% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 49 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $132,250, +53% vs the national median), while Florida sits lowest at $56,230 — a 135% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Writing, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Learning management system LMS as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Tools & technology
- Learning management system LMS
- Auto3DEM
- Blackboard Learn
- CCP4
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- DOC Cop
- IHRSR++
- Image scanning software
- iParadigms Turnitin
- Moodle
- Mosflm
- OriginLab Origin
- PerkinElmer ChemOffice Chem3D
- PerkinElmer ChemOffice ChemDraw
Knowledge areas
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Biology
- Physics
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics