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Higher Education
Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Michigan
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
Chemistry teachers at the postsecondary level teach college students how chemistry works in lectures, discussions, and lab sections, while also grading, advising, and keeping lab spaces safe. The work stands out because it blends classroom teaching with hands-on lab supervision and staying current in the field. The main tradeoff is clear: the pay is solid, but the path into the job is long and the number of openings is small.
Also known as Chemistry InstructorChemistry LecturerAssistant Professor of ChemistryAdjunct Chemistry InstructorProfessor of Chemistry
Median Salary
$86,220
Mean $103,030
U.S. Workforce
~20K
1.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.2%
25.4K to 26K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Chemistry 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 ~20K workers, with a median annual pay of $86,220 and roughly 1.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 25.4 K in 2024 to 26K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's Degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Senior Lecturer / Professor. High-value skills usually include Scientific Literature Review, Google Scholar & ACS Publications, Lecture Delivery, Syllabus Design & Assessment Creation, and Laboratory Safety, Chemical Hygiene & Waste Disposal, paired with soft skills such as Reading Comprehension, Speaking, and Writing.
Core Responsibilities
- Help students choose classes, degree plans, and career directions.
- Set up, clean, and maintain chemistry lab spaces before and after experiments.
- Work with other faculty to improve courses and solve teaching or research problems.
- Create, give, and grade exams and quizzes.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Help students choose classes, degree plans, and career directions.
02 Set up, clean, and maintain chemistry lab spaces before and after experiments.
03 Work with other faculty to improve courses and solve teaching or research problems.
04 Create, give, and grade exams and quizzes.
05 Grade lab reports, homework, and papers.
06 Lead class discussions, hold office hours, and stay up to date on new chemistry research.
Industries That Hire
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, Santa Monica College
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Private Colleges
Amherst College, Swarthmore College, Williams College
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Online & Hybrid Universities
Southern New Hampshire University, Arizona State University, Purdue University Global
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Military & Federal Academies
U.S. Naval Academy, Air Force Institute of Technology, Naval Postgraduate School
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong for a teaching job, with a median annual salary of $86,220 and a mean of $103,030.
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BLS says no work experience or on-the-job training is required, so the main barrier is the degree itself.
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The job mixes teaching, mentoring, and chemistry, which suits people who want to explain science rather than only do research.
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Many schools follow semesters, so the calendar can include predictable breaks between terms.
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You help prepare students for later work in science, health, and engineering programs.
Challenges
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The education requirement is steep: BLS says a doctoral or professional degree is typical, and O*NET is heavily weighted toward a master's degree, post-doctoral training, and doctorates.
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Growth is slow at 2.2% from 2024 to 2034, which means the field is not adding jobs quickly.
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There are only about 1.9 thousand annual openings nationwide, so full-time openings can be competitive.
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The mean salary is much higher than the median, which suggests a split between better-paid senior faculty and many lower-paid posts.
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The academic ladder can be narrow, with limited tenure-track openings and heavy teaching loads that leave less room for advancement or research.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-3 years
$30K-$44K
Helps run labs, leads discussion sections, and grades assignments while finishing a graduate degree.
Adjunct Chemistry Instructor
2-6 years
$45K-$69K
Teaches one or more chemistry sections per term, often with limited benefits and little job security.
Chemistry Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
5-12 years
$70K-$114K
Plans and delivers chemistry courses, grades student work, supervises labs, and advises students.
Senior Lecturer / Professor
10-20 years
$115K-$170K
Takes on heavier course loads, mentors junior instructors, and may lead curriculum or departmental work.
Education Paths
Master's Degree
The single most common O*NET pathway, held by 35.27% of workers in this role, especially at community colleges and teaching-focused schools.
Post-Doctoral Training
A major route for research universities, held by 31.37% of workers, usually after finishing a doctorate and before landing a faculty post.
Doctoral Degree
A standard entry route in the BLS data, held by 25.19% of workers and often expected for four-year colleges and universities.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
A smaller alternative route, held by 5.77% of workers, usually most useful when paired with strong classroom or lab experience.
Key Skills
Technical
Scientific Literature Review, Google Scholar & ACS Publications 82%
Lecture Delivery, Syllabus Design & Assessment Creation 82%
Laboratory Safety, Chemical Hygiene & Waste Disposal 80%
Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Administration 80%
Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint & Classroom Technology 80%
General Chemistry Lab Equipment, Glassware & Instrumentation 78%
Soft Skills
Reading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingCritical ThinkingActive LearningActive Listening Job Outlook and Trends
+2.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 25.4K to 26 K over the next decade, representing 2.2% growth. Around 1.9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.