Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Adjunct Instructor · Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Faculty Member · Instructor · Lecturer
Median pay (national)
$82,540
$49,330–$167,240 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
12,380
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.1%
~1,100 openings/yr
Typical entry
Doctoral or professional degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for sociology teachers, postsecondary shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $167,240 versus $49,330 at the bottom 10% — 3.4x. The median of $82,540 leaves roughly 103% 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 +2.1% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 48 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $129,760, +57% vs the national median), while Alabama sits lowest at $60,840 — a 113% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening 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, Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Science
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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 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.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
Tools & technology
- Learning management system LMS
- Microsoft Office software
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- R
- SAS
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Blackboard Learn
- Blackboard software
- Centre for Multilevel Modeling MLwiN
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- DOC Cop
- Econometric Software LIMDEP
- Image scanning software
- iParadigms Turnitin
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- History and Archeology
- Psychology
- Philosophy and Theology
- Law and Government