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Public Universities
University of California, University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Sociology teachers at the postsecondary level teach classes on inequality, family, culture, institutions, and social behavior, and they often lead discussions that push students to connect theory with real-world examples. Many also conduct research and publish papers, so the job splits time between the classroom and academic work. The tradeoff is strong intellectual freedom and variety, but it usually takes a doctorate and the path to a stable full-time job can be competitive.
Also known as Sociology InstructorLecturer in SociologyAdjunct Sociology InstructorAssistant Professor of SociologyProfessor of Sociology
Median Salary
$82,540
Mean $97,270
U.S. Workforce
~12K
1.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.1%
15.4K to 15.7K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Sociology 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 ~12K workers, with a median annual pay of $82,540 and roughly 1.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 15.4 K in 2024 to 15.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Senior Professor / Department Chair. High-value skills usually include R, SPSS & Stata, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey & Survey Design, and Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Platforms, paired with soft skills such as Public speaking, Active listening, and Writing.
Core Responsibilities
- Lead class discussions and explain sociological ideas in a way students can follow.
- Meet with students about course choices, career plans, and graduate school options.
- Write, give, and grade quizzes, exams, papers, and other assignments.
- Keep up with new research, then use that information in class and in your own publications.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Lead class discussions and explain sociological ideas in a way students can follow.
02 Meet with students about course choices, career plans, and graduate school options.
03 Write, give, and grade quizzes, exams, papers, and other assignments.
04 Keep up with new research, then use that information in class and in your own publications.
05 Work with other faculty on course plans, program changes, and research projects.
06 Track attendance, grades, and other required course records.
Industries That Hire
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Private Universities
Harvard University, Stanford University, Princeton University
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Austin Community College, Santa Monica College
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Online Higher Education and EdTech
Southern New Hampshire University, Arizona State University, Coursera
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Research and Policy Organizations
NORC at the University of Chicago, Westat, Pew Research Center
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is solid for teaching work, with a mean annual wage of $97,270 and a median of $82,540.
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The role usually requires no work experience and no on-the-job training, so the credential is the main gatekeeper.
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The work is varied because it mixes teaching, advising, grading, and research instead of repeating one task all day.
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Employment is projected to rise from 15.4K to 15.7K by 2034, so the field is not shrinking even if growth is modest.
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There are about 1.1K annual openings, which means openings come up regularly even in a small occupation.
Challenges
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The usual entry requirement is a doctoral or professional degree, and 76.68% of workers already have a doctorate, so the training path is long.
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Growth is only 2.1% over the decade, so the field is expanding slowly and does not create a lot of new jobs.
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Only 0.3K net jobs are expected to be added by 2034, so many openings will come from replacement rather than expansion.
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The job market is concentrated in colleges and universities, which can make it hard to find the right opening in the right city.
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Academic careers can be structurally uneven: stable full-time roles are limited, and many instructors spend years in lower-paid or temporary positions before reaching one.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-2 years
$30K-$39K
Helps lead discussion sections, grades work, and builds teaching experience while finishing graduate school.
Adjunct Instructor
2-5 years
$40K-$55K
Teaches one or more sociology courses on contract and may work at more than one campus to piece together income.
Sociology Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
5-12 years
$72K-$98K
Teaches a fuller course load, advises students, and may also publish research or serve on department committees.
Senior Professor / Department Chair
12+ years
$100K-$145K
Leads curriculum decisions, mentors junior faculty, and takes on more research, administration, and program planning.
Education Paths
Doctoral degree
The main path into this role, held by 76.68% of workers, and usually the standard for full-time faculty jobs.
Master's degree
A common alternative, held by 22.84% of workers, especially for lecturer and community college teaching roles.
Post-master's certificate
An uncommon add-on path, held by 0.48% of workers, often used to strengthen teaching credentials after a master's degree.
Key Skills
Technical
R, SPSS & Stata 88%
Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey & Survey Design 84%
Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Platforms 82%
JSTOR, Google Scholar & Academic Databases 80%
Zoom, PowerPoint & Classroom Technology 78%
Soft Skills
Public speakingActive listeningWritingMentoringCollaborationCritical thinking Job Outlook and Trends
+2.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 15.4K to 15.7 K over the next decade, representing 2.1% growth. Around 1.1 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.