Career Overview
Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also Known As
- Economics Instructor
- Economics Professor
- Instructor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Accounting Lecturer
- Adjunct Economics Instructor
- Adjunct Economics Professor
- Adjunct Professor
- Agricultural Economics Professor
- Agricultural Economics Teacher
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Econometrics Professor
- Economic Adjunct Instructor
- Economic Instructor
- Economics Adjunct Instructor
- Economics Adjunct Professor
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Instructing
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
- Active Learning
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Python
- R
Tools & Equipment
- Carousel slide projectors
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Computer projectors
- Conference telephones
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Handheld microphones
- Interactive whiteboard controllers
- Interactive whiteboards
- Laptop computers
Work Environment
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Sitting
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $57,550 |
| Median | $119,980 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $217,160 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 12,420
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
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Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
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Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
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Economists
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Median Salary: $115,440
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
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Median Salary: $79,350
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.