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Public Universities
Arizona State University, University of Florida, Texas A&M University
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
These teachers teach college students how to apply family and consumer sciences topics such as nutrition, child development, housing, textiles, and consumer economics. The work mixes classroom teaching with grading, student advising, and staying current in a field that blends research with practical life skills. The tradeoff is clear: the job can be steady and subject-focused, but it usually requires an advanced degree and there are only a small number of openings.
Also known as Family and Consumer Sciences InstructorPostsecondary Family and Consumer Sciences InstructorFamily and Consumer Sciences LecturerConsumer Sciences InstructorFCS Instructor
Median Salary
$77,280
Mean $84,450
U.S. Workforce
~3K
0.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.4%
3.2K to 3.3K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Family and Consumer Sciences 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 ~3K workers, with a median annual pay of $77,280 and roughly 0.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 3.2 K in 2024 to 3.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral Degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Adjunct Instructor and can progress toward Professor / Program Chair. High-value skills usually include Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard), Curriculum Design & Lesson Planning, and Student Assessment, Rubrics & Grading Systems, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Instructing.
Core Responsibilities
- Prepare course materials, reading lists, and handouts for students.
- Lead lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in class or online.
- Write, give, and grade quizzes, exams, papers, projects, and lab work.
- Keep attendance, grades, and other student records up to date.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Prepare course materials, reading lists, and handouts for students.
02 Lead lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in class or online.
03 Write, give, and grade quizzes, exams, papers, projects, and lab work.
04 Keep attendance, grades, and other student records up to date.
05 Read new research, talk with colleagues, and attend conferences to stay current.
06 Help recruit students, support registration and placement, and take part in campus events.
Industries That Hire
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Ivy Tech Community College, Portland Community College
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Private Universities
Baylor University, Pepperdine University, Liberty University
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Online Colleges and Universities
Western Governors University, Southern New Hampshire University, University of Phoenix
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Extension and Outreach Systems
Cornell University Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for a teaching job, with a mean annual wage of $84,450 and a median of $77,280.
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The role has a clear education path: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry, with no work experience or on-the-job training required.
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You get to teach concrete topics like nutrition, family studies, and consumer decision-making instead of only abstract theory.
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Demand is small but steady, with employment projected to rise from 3.2K to 3.3K by 2034 and about 0.2K annual openings.
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The work is varied, mixing teaching, grading, student advising, events, and professional development instead of a single repetitive task.
Challenges
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The job market is tiny: only about 2,630 workers are employed now, so openings can be competitive.
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The credential bar is high, and nearly half of workers have a doctoral degree while 36.45% have a master's, which makes the path long and expensive.
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Growth is modest at 3.4%, so the field is unlikely to add jobs quickly or create a lot of new openings.
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A lot of the job is behind-the-scenes work such as grading, attendance records, and recruitment, not just classroom teaching.
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The role can be vulnerable to enrollment swings and budget pressure, because colleges can cut small programs when headcount drops.
Career Progression
Adjunct Instructor
0-3 years
$42K-$58K
Teaches one or two sections, follows an established syllabus, and spends a lot of time learning how college-level teaching works.
Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary
3-7 years
$77K-$94K
Teaches full courses, grades student work, holds office hours, and begins helping students with advising and program questions.
Assistant Professor THIS ROLE
7-12 years
$95K-$116K
Balances teaching with committee work, curriculum decisions, and sometimes research or publication expectations.
Associate Professor
12-18 years
$117K-$137K
Takes on more leadership, mentors newer faculty, and may help shape hiring, program design, and accreditation work.
Professor / Program Chair
18+ years
$138K-$160K
Leads the program or department, teaches advanced courses, and handles the most visible academic and administrative responsibilities.
Education Paths
Doctoral Degree
The most common route, held by 48.02% of workers in this role, and it matches the BLS typical entry of a doctoral or professional degree.
Master's Degree
A major alternative, held by 36.45% of workers in this role, and often enough for teaching at community colleges or in instructor-level posts.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
A smaller route, held by 7.89% of workers in this role, usually paired with a prior degree and strong subject knowledge.
Bachelor's Degree
A less common path, held by 3.66% of workers in this role, and usually strengthened by graduate study or substantial professional experience.
Key Skills
Technical
Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard) 82%
Curriculum Design & Lesson Planning 81%
Student Assessment, Rubrics & Grading Systems 80%
Academic Research Databases, APA Style & Citation Tools 78%
Microsoft Office, Google Workspace & Excel 76%
Zoom, Panopto & Video Teaching Tools 74%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningInstructingLearning StrategiesReading ComprehensionCritical Thinking Job Outlook and Trends
+3.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 3.2K to 3.3 K over the next decade, representing 3.4% growth. Around 0.2 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.