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Higher Education
Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan, UCLA
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
These educators teach future nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and other health workers, while also advising students, updating courses, and often supervising clinical or lab work. What makes the job different is the constant need to stay current in a fast-changing field; some schools expect research and publishing too, so the role can feel split between classroom teaching and scholarly output.
Also known as Postsecondary Health Professions InstructorHealth Sciences InstructorNursing InstructorAllied Health InstructorClinical Instructor
Median Salary
$105,620
Mean $137,900
U.S. Workforce
~230K
27.4K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+17.3%
289.6K to 339.7K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Health Specialties 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 ~230K workers, with a median annual pay of $105,620 and roughly 27.4K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 289.6 K in 2024 to 339.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's Degree, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Adjunct Clinical Instructor and can progress toward Department Chair or Program Director. High-value skills usually include Academic Research Databases, PubMed & CINAHL, Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Platforms, and Curriculum Design, Mapping & Assessment, paired with soft skills such as Teaching and mentoring, Clear speaking, and Active listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Help students choose classes, map out degree requirements, and think through career options.
- Teach health-related courses and supervise labs, clinical practice, internships, or student research.
- Create and update syllabi, assignments, handouts, and other course materials.
- Stay up to date by reading new research, talking with colleagues, and attending professional meetings.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Help students choose classes, map out degree requirements, and think through career options.
02 Teach health-related courses and supervise labs, clinical practice, internships, or student research.
03 Create and update syllabi, assignments, handouts, and other course materials.
04 Stay up to date by reading new research, talking with colleagues, and attending professional meetings.
05 Publish research findings in journals, books, or online publications when the job includes scholarship.
06 Serve on department or school committees and help with recruiting, registration, and student placement.
Industries That Hire
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, Austin Community College
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Hospital Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
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Medical Schools
Duke University School of Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
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Online Universities
Western Governors University, Southern New Hampshire University, Purdue Global
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay can be strong for an education job, with a mean annual salary of $137,900 and a median of $105,620.
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The field is projected to grow 17.3% from 2024 to 2034, which adds about 50.1 thousand jobs.
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There should be plenty of hiring activity, with about 27.4 thousand annual openings each year.
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The work is varied: you teach, advise students, update courses, and may also do research or publish.
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Your subject-matter expertise matters a lot, so advanced training can translate directly into respected work.
Challenges
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The entry barrier is high: BLS says the typical entry requirement is a doctoral or professional degree, and many workers also have master's, doctoral, or post-doctoral training.
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The job can be split in many directions because teaching often comes with advising, committee work, recruiting, and research expectations.
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The median salary of $105,620 is much lower than the $137,900 mean, which suggests pay is uneven and the highest earners pull the average up.
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Remote work is usually limited because labs, simulations, and clinical supervision are hard to do well from home.
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Career growth can hit a ceiling unless you move into administration or research leadership, so the next pay jump is not always inside the classroom track.
Career Progression
Adjunct Clinical Instructor
0-3 years
$65K-$85K
Teaches a few sections or lab groups and learns how to manage student questions, grading, and clinical supervision.
Health Specialties Teacher, Postsecondary
3-8 years
$90K-$120K
Balances teaching, advising, and course planning, often while supervising labs, internships, or student research.
Senior Faculty Member THIS ROLE
8-15 years
$125K-$155K
Leads curriculum changes, mentors junior instructors, and may publish research or coordinate a program area.
Department Chair or Program Director
15+ years
$160K-$200K
Oversees staffing, budgets, accreditation, and long-term program planning while still staying connected to teaching and student outcomes.
Education Paths
Master's Degree
The most common path, held by 35.94% of workers in this occupation, especially for teaching-focused roles in nursing and allied health.
Doctoral Degree
A major path for faculty who teach advanced courses or lead research, held by 24.91% of workers.
Post-Doctoral Training
Often used for research-heavy or highly specialized teaching roles, held by 19.14% of workers.
Bachelor's Degree
A smaller route, reported by 12.49% of workers, usually paired with deep clinical experience or a very narrow specialty.
Key Skills
Technical
Academic Research Databases, PubMed & CINAHL 78%
Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Platforms 77%
Curriculum Design, Mapping & Assessment 77%
EndNote, Zotero & Scholarly Publishing Tools 76%
Clinical Simulation, Lab & Skills-Center Instruction 76%
Banner, Degree Works & Student Information Systems 74%
Zoom, Panopto & Classroom Presentation Tools 73%
Soft Skills
Teaching and mentoringClear speakingActive listeningCritical thinkingWriting clearlyBuilding relationships Job Outlook and Trends
+17.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
27.4K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 289.6K to 339.7 K over the next decade, representing 17.3% growth. Around 27.4 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.