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Public Universities
University of California, University of Michigan, Texas A&M University
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Political science teachers at the postsecondary level teach college courses on government, political theory, public policy, and international affairs while also advising students and revising course materials. The work stands out because it mixes classroom teaching with constant reading and curriculum updates, and the main tradeoff is that the job demands a doctorate and ongoing scholarly activity for a relatively small number of openings.
Also known as Political Science ProfessorProfessor of Political SciencePolitical Science LecturerPolitical Science InstructorAdjunct Political Science Professor
Median Salary
$94,680
Mean $105,160
U.S. Workforce
~17K
1.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2%
21.8K to 22.2K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Political 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 ~17K workers, with a median annual pay of $94,680 and roughly 1.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 21.8 K in 2024 to 22.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral Degree in Political 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 or Department Chair. High-value skills usually include Academic Research Databases (JSTOR, ProQuest & HeinOnline), Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard & Brightspace), and SPSS, Stata & R Statistical Software, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Reading Comprehension, and Active Learning.
Core Responsibilities
- Lead class discussions and lectures on topics like government, elections, political theory, and public policy.
- Help student clubs and political organizations plan activities and work through leadership questions.
- Guide students on course choices, degree plans, and career decisions during office hours and advising meetings.
- Update lectures, readings, assignments, and exams so the course reflects current events and new research.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Lead class discussions and lectures on topics like government, elections, political theory, and public policy.
02 Help student clubs and political organizations plan activities and work through leadership questions.
03 Guide students on course choices, degree plans, and career decisions during office hours and advising meetings.
04 Update lectures, readings, assignments, and exams so the course reflects current events and new research.
05 Read new scholarship and attend conferences to stay current in the field.
06 Grade exams and assignments, track attendance and grades, and coordinate with other faculty on curriculum and teaching issues.
Industries That Hire
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Private Universities
Harvard University, Stanford University, Duke University
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Liberal Arts Colleges
Amherst College, Williams College, Swarthmore College
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Santa Monica College, Houston Community College
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Online Higher Education
Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, Arizona State University
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong for academia, with a mean annual salary of $105,160 and a median of $94,680.
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The entry requirement is clear: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training required.
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The job is varied because it mixes teaching, student advising, curriculum planning, and staying current on political research.
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You get regular contact with motivated students and the chance to shape how they think about government and policy.
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The academic calendar can offer more predictable breaks than many year-round jobs, especially at schools with semester schedules.
Challenges
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The job market is small, with only 17,170 workers and projected growth of just 2.0% from 2024 to 2034, or about 1.6 thousand annual openings.
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The credential barrier is high: 96.54% of workers hold a doctorate, so a master's degree is usually not enough for a full-time role.
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Competition can be intense because openings grow slowly, so it can take a long time to land a stable faculty job.
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A lot of the work is invisible service work—record keeping, advising, committee meetings, and curriculum changes—that cuts into teaching and research time.
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Staying credible in the classroom means constant reading and conference attendance, and the field's long-term career ladder can be narrow compared with the effort required to enter it.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-4 years
$35K-$49K
This early stage usually means assisting with discussion sections, grading, and limited teaching under close supervision while finishing graduate study.
Assistant Professor
4-8 years
$50K-$89K
At this level, you teach full courses, advise students, and begin balancing classroom work with research and service duties.
Political Science Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
8-15 years
$90K-$119K
This is the core teaching role: you run courses, update materials, advise students, and keep pace with developments in political science.
Associate Professor
12-20 years
$120K-$149K
Work shifts toward mentoring junior faculty, serving on committees, leading curriculum changes, and taking on more program responsibility.
Professor or Department Chair
18+ years
$150K-$190K
Senior roles combine advanced teaching, departmental leadership, hiring decisions, and more administrative oversight.
Education Paths
Doctoral Degree in Political Science or a related field
The standard entry path, held by 96.54% of workers in this role.
Master's Degree in Political Science, Public Policy, or a related social science
A smaller path used by 3.46% of workers, usually for limited teaching roles or as a step before a doctoral appointment.
Graduate teaching certificate or college teaching fellowship
A useful add-on for classroom practice and course design, but it usually supports a doctorate rather than replacing it.
Key Skills
Technical
Academic Research Databases (JSTOR, ProQuest & HeinOnline) 88%
Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard & Brightspace) 85%
SPSS, Stata & R Statistical Software 82%
Microsoft PowerPoint, Word & Google Workspace 76%
Zotero, EndNote & Citation Management Tools 72%
Soft Skills
SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive LearningActive ListeningInstructingWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 21.8K to 22.2 K over the next decade, representing 2% growth. Around 1.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.