Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Also Known As:

Adjunct Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Instructor Physical Science Professor Physics Instructor Physics Lecturer Physics Professor Professor Science Instructor

Wages

Annual wages for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in United States

Job Outlook Average

New job opportunities are likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

17,500

3% Change From 2024

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Tasks you might complete in a day.

Act as advisers to student organizations.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Supervise students' laboratory work.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Participate in campus and community events.
Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.

Average Education Attained

Highest level of education earned by people in this career.

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