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Public research universities
University of California Berkeley, Georgia Tech, University of Texas at Austin
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Computer science teachers at the postsecondary level do more than lecture: they build assignments, run labs or online sections, advise students, and keep courses aligned with a field that changes fast. The job sits between academia and industry, so you need enough technical depth to teach real tools and enough patience to explain them to beginners. The tradeoff is that the degree bar is high and much of the work happens outside class in grading, office hours, and constant updating.
Also known as Computer Science LecturerComputer Science InstructorAdjunct Computer Science InstructorAssistant Professor of Computer SciencePostsecondary Computer Science Teacher
Median Salary
$96,690
Mean $105,830
U.S. Workforce
~36K
3.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.3%
44.8K to 47.2K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Computer Science 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 ~36K workers, with a median annual pay of $96,690 and roughly 3.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 44.8 K in 2024 to 47.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's degree in computer science or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Professor / Department Chair. High-value skills usually include Curriculum Design & Course Delivery, Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle), and Programming Languages & GitHub Classroom (Python, Java, C++), paired with soft skills such as Instructing, Reading Comprehension, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Plan lessons, handouts, and lab activities for courses in programming, databases, networks, or other computer science topics.
- Hold class discussions, give lectures, and lead students through examples, coding exercises, and problem-solving work.
- Create quizzes, exams, and assignments, then grade them and give students feedback on how to improve.
- Meet with students during office hours to answer questions about coursework, schedules, and career plans.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Plan lessons, handouts, and lab activities for courses in programming, databases, networks, or other computer science topics.
02 Hold class discussions, give lectures, and lead students through examples, coding exercises, and problem-solving work.
03 Create quizzes, exams, and assignments, then grade them and give students feedback on how to improve.
04 Meet with students during office hours to answer questions about coursework, schedules, and career plans.
05 Work with other instructors to update course material, solve teaching problems, and improve the curriculum.
06 Keep learning the latest developments in computing and, when needed, build or update online course websites and materials.
Industries That Hire
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Private universities
Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Community colleges
Miami Dade College, Northern Virginia Community College, Santa Monica College
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Online and hybrid universities
Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, University of Maryland Global Campus
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Liberal arts and teaching colleges
Harvey Mudd College, Swarthmore College, Oberlin College
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for an academic role: the mean annual wage is $105,830 and the median is $96,690.
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There is no required work experience and no on-the-job training, so the main hurdle is formal education rather than an apprenticeship.
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The work mixes teaching with real computing, so you are not stuck doing only lectures or only coding.
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There are about 3.5K annual openings, which creates a steady stream of opportunities even though growth is modest.
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You can often shape your schedule around classes, office hours, and course prep, and some schools let you teach online or hybrid sections.
Challenges
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The usual entry bar is high: BLS says a doctoral or professional degree is typical, and 41.65% of workers already hold doctorates.
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Growth is only 5.3% through 2034, with just 2.4K more jobs projected, so the field is expanding slowly.
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A lot of the work is tied to adjunct or non-tenure-track jobs, which can mean weak job security and semester-to-semester uncertainty.
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The job does not end when class ends; grading, office hours, and staying current with fast-moving computing topics often spill into evenings and weekends.
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Pay can lag well behind private-sector software jobs, especially at teaching-focused schools and in lower-rank academic positions.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-3 years
$38K-$55K
Usually supports labs or discussion sections while finishing graduate school and learning how to manage a classroom.
Adjunct Instructor / Lecturer
1-6 years
$55K-$82K
Teaches individual courses, handles grading and student questions, and often works semester to semester with limited job security.
Computer Science Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
3-10 years
$90K-$115K
Runs full courses, advises students, and keeps assignments and examples current with new tools and practices in computing.
Associate Professor
8-15 years
$115K-$145K
Takes on a steadier teaching load, helps shape curriculum, and may mentor junior instructors or supervise graduate students.
Professor / Department Chair
15+ years
$145K-$180K
Leads programs, mentors faculty, and helps set the direction for the department's teaching priorities and hiring decisions.
Education Paths
Master's degree in computer science or a related field
The most common route, held by 47.35% of workers in this role, is a master's degree in computer science or a closely related subject.
Doctoral degree
A doctoral degree is also common, at 41.65% of workers, and it is often expected for jobs at research universities or for faculty lines with more publication work.
Bachelor's degree plus strong industry or teaching experience
A bachelor's degree appears for 11.0% of workers, usually when paired with substantial software experience, prior adjunct teaching, or a specialized niche such as cybersecurity or data science.
Key Skills
Technical
Curriculum Design & Course Delivery 82%
Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle) 80%
Programming Languages & GitHub Classroom (Python, Java, C++) 79%
Assessment Tools (Gradescope, Turnitin, LMS Quizzes) 78%
Lecture Capture & Video Conferencing (Zoom, Panopto, Microsoft Teams) 77%
Web Development for Online Courses (HTML, CSS, WordPress) 76%
Research Databases (ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, arXiv) 75%
Soft Skills
InstructingReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingCritical ThinkingActive Listening Job Outlook and Trends
+5.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
3.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 44.8K to 47.2 K over the next decade, representing 5.3% growth. Around 3.5 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.