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Universities
University of Southern California, New York University, University of Michigan
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
These teachers lead college-level classes in art, drama, or music, but the work goes well beyond lecturing. They coach students on technique, grade performances and projects, keep detailed academic records, and often help recruit and advise majors, so the job mixes creative mentoring with a fair amount of paperwork and enrollment pressure.
Also known as Adjunct Faculty, ArtLecturer, MusicAssistant Professor of TheatreCollege Instructor, Fine ArtsProfessor of Performing Arts
Median Salary
$80,190
Mean $102,240
U.S. Workforce
~98K
9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.7%
122.8K to 124.8K
Entry Education
Master's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~98K workers, with a median annual pay of $80,190 and roughly 9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 122.8 K in 2024 to 124.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's degree in art, theater, music, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant / Adjunct Instructor and can progress toward Professor / Department Chair. High-value skills usually include Curriculum Design, Syllabus Planning & Assessment, Rehearsal Direction & Performance Coaching, and Student Grading, Rubrics & Academic Records Systems, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Instructing, and Learning Strategies.
Core Responsibilities
- Teach classes and show students how to use artistic techniques in practice.
- Review and grade papers, projects, performances, and exams.
- Rehearse with students and get them ready for auditions, recitals, exhibitions, or juries.
- Keep attendance, grades, and other required records up to date.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Teach classes and show students how to use artistic techniques in practice.
02 Review and grade papers, projects, performances, and exams.
03 Rehearse with students and get them ready for auditions, recitals, exhibitions, or juries.
04 Keep attendance, grades, and other required records up to date.
05 Meet with students about course choices, degree plans, and career goals.
06 Help recruit students, attend campus and community events, and stay current by reading and attending professional conferences.
Industries That Hire
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Santa Monica College, Houston Community College
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Liberal Arts Colleges
Amherst College, Oberlin College, Wesleyan University
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Performing Arts Conservatories
The Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
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Online and Continuing Education
Southern New Hampshire University, Arizona State University, University of Phoenix
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for education work, with a median of $80,190 and a mean of $102,240.
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You get real creative control over how you teach technique, interpret material, and shape performances.
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The job fits people who like mentoring because a lot of the work is one-on-one feedback and coaching.
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No prior work experience or on-the-job training is required, so the main barrier is formal education rather than an apprenticeship.
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There are still about 9.0 thousand annual openings, so openings keep coming even though overall growth is slow.
Challenges
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Growth is only 1.7% through 2034, so the field is not expanding quickly and new full-time jobs are limited.
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The credential bar is high: 50.68% of workers have a master's degree and 31.67% have a doctorate.
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A lot of the job is not teaching; grading, records, recruiting, and event work can eat into the creative side.
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Pay can be uneven across schools, and adjunct or part-time roles often pay much less than the overall salary figures suggest.
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The career ladder is narrow and often tied to tenure, enrollment, and program budgets, so advancement can be slow even for strong teachers.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant / Adjunct Instructor
0-3 years
$35K-$50K
Teaches a small number of classes or labs, supports senior faculty, and builds teaching experience while finishing a degree or portfolio.
Assistant Professor
3-7 years
$55K-$74K
Runs assigned courses, advises students, and starts shaping a teaching style and reputation within a department.
Postsecondary Art, Drama, and Music Teacher THIS ROLE
7-15 years
$75K-$99K
Leads college-level instruction, grades student work and performances, prepares students for recitals or auditions, and handles program responsibilities.
Professor / Department Chair
15+ years
$100K-$145K
Oversees curriculum, mentors junior faculty, helps guide recruiting and program planning, and may take on department leadership.
Education Paths
Master's degree in art, theater, music, or a related field
The most common entry point, held by 50.68% of workers in this role, and often the minimum expected for teaching at the college level.
Doctoral degree
A major route for research universities and conservatories, held by 31.67% of workers in this role, especially for tenure-track positions.
Bachelor's degree with strong professional experience or a standout portfolio
A smaller path, held by 13.89% of workers in this role, usually when the candidate has notable performance, exhibition, or production experience.
Post-master's certificate in teaching, pedagogy, or a specialty discipline
An uncommon option, held by 1.61% of workers in this role, and useful for adding a teaching specialty or sharpening expertise.
Key Skills
Technical
Curriculum Design, Syllabus Planning & Assessment 88%
Rehearsal Direction & Performance Coaching 86%
Student Grading, Rubrics & Academic Records Systems 84%
Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle 78%
Adobe Creative Cloud, Procreate & Final Cut Pro 74%
Sibelius, Finale, Dorico, Pro Tools & Logic Pro 72%
Soft Skills
SpeakingInstructingLearning StrategiesActive ListeningActive LearningWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+1.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 122.8K to 124.8 K over the next decade, representing 1.7% growth. Around 9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.