Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What it pays
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $41.45/hr — about $86,000 a year. (Annual figure is approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $41.45/hr — about $86,000 a year. (Annual figure is approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
- Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Doctoral degree. Overall preparation: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
The feel of the work
The work is mostly indoors; it rewards working independently. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 0.2% of chemistry teachers, postsecondary are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are analytical, people-focused and hands-on.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a chemistry teachers, postsecondary make?
- The median pay is $41.45 per hour — roughly $86,000 a year. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a chemistry teachers, postsecondary?
- The typical entry-level education is: Doctoral degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
- What does a chemistry teachers, postsecondary actually do all day?
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation. Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials. Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.