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Public Universities
University of California, University of Michigan, Arizona State University
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other
These teachers lead college-level classes in social science subjects such as sociology, political science, anthropology, and economics, then spend a lot of time grading papers, meeting with students, and refining course material. The work is a mix of teaching and scholarship: you need to explain complex ideas clearly while keeping up with your field and the demands of the department. The tradeoff is that the job can be intellectually rewarding and fairly well paid, but it usually requires advanced degrees and offers only modest growth and limited openings.
Also known as Postsecondary Social Sciences InstructorCollege Social Sciences InstructorSocial Science LecturerSocial Sciences ProfessorUniversity Social Science Instructor
Median Salary
$75,040
Mean $92,950
U.S. Workforce
~18K
1.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.7%
20.7K to 21.1K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other 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 ~18K workers, with a median annual pay of $75,040 and roughly 1.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 20.7 K in 2024 to 21.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral or professional degree in a social science field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Full Professor. High-value skills usually include Curriculum Design & Syllabus Planning, Lecture Delivery & Discussion Facilitation, and Academic Research Methods, paired with soft skills such as Clear communication, Mentoring and coaching, and Critical thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Plan class syllabi, readings, and assignments for social science courses.
- Teach lectures and lead class discussions, whether in person or online.
- Grade essays, exams, and research projects using clear academic standards.
- Meet with students during office hours to answer questions and help with research or career plans.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Plan class syllabi, readings, and assignments for social science courses.
02 Teach lectures and lead class discussions, whether in person or online.
03 Grade essays, exams, and research projects using clear academic standards.
04 Meet with students during office hours to answer questions and help with research or career plans.
05 Keep course content current by reading new scholarship and updating examples or case studies.
06 Take part in department work such as curriculum planning, student assessment, and committee meetings.
Industries That Hire
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Private Universities
Harvard University, Stanford University, Columbia University
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, Santa Monica College
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Online & Hybrid Colleges
Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, University of Maryland Global Campus
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Liberal Arts Colleges
Amherst College, Williams College, Swarthmore College
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is fairly strong for teaching work, with a mean annual salary of $92,950 and a median of $75,040.
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You get to teach subjects that are intellectually rich and often tie directly to current events and public debates.
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The role draws on graduate training, so there is no required on-the-job training period once you are hired.
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Semester-based schedules can create some flexibility, especially at schools that offer online or evening classes.
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There are about 1.5K annual openings, which gives qualified candidates real chances when positions open up.
Challenges
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Growth is only 1.7% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is expanding slowly.
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The job usually requires a doctoral or professional degree, which means years of school before you can start earning at this level.
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With only about 1.5K annual openings, competition for stable full-time positions can be intense.
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A lot of the work happens outside the classroom—grading, office hours, committee meetings, and course prep can spill into evenings and weekends.
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The career ceiling can be tight because many schools rely on part-time or short-term instructors instead of creating permanent faculty lines.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-3 years
$35K-$48K
Supports professors, leads discussion sections, grades assignments, and gains classroom experience while finishing graduate study.
Adjunct Instructor
1-5 years
$49K-$65K
Teaches one or more courses on a part-time or contract basis, usually with less job security and fewer benefits.
Social Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
3-10 years
$66K-$92K
Teaches courses, advises students, and handles grading, office hours, and department service as a full-time faculty member.
Associate Professor
8-15 years
$93K-$125K
Takes on more advanced teaching, mentorship, committee work, and research, often with a stronger role in curriculum decisions.
Full Professor
15+ years
$126K-$175K
Leads major courses or programs, mentors junior faculty, and carries a heavier share of research, service, and departmental leadership.
Education Paths
Doctoral or professional degree in a social science field
BLS lists this as the typical entry point for the role.
Master's degree in sociology, political science, anthropology, economics, or a related field
A master's can be enough for some adjunct and community-college positions, but it is usually not the standard path for full-time faculty roles.
Postdoctoral research or graduate fellowship
This is a common extra step for people targeting research-heavy colleges or competitive faculty openings.
Teaching-focused graduate study or pedagogy coursework
Some instructors build a classroom track record through graduate teaching experience before moving into college teaching, especially in smaller programs.
Key Skills
Technical
Curriculum Design & Syllabus Planning 90%
Lecture Delivery & Discussion Facilitation 88%
Academic Research Methods 84%
Assessment Design & Grading Rubrics 80%
LMS Platforms (Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle) 78%
Statistical Analysis Software (SPSS, R & Stata) 74%
Soft Skills
Clear communicationMentoring and coachingCritical thinkingTime managementPublic speakingAdaptability Job Outlook and Trends
+1.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 20.7K to 21.1 K over the next decade, representing 1.7% growth. Around 1.5 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.