Career Overview
Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also Known As
- History Instructor
- History Professor
- Instructor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Adjunct Art History Professor
- Adjunct History Instructor
- Adjunct Instructor
- African History Professor
- American History Professor
- Art History Adjunct Professor
- Art History Instructor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Economic History Teacher
- Historiography Professor
- Historiography Teacher
- History Adjunct Instructor
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as ancient history, postwar civilizations, and the history of third-world countries.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- 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.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Evaluate faculty members.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- History and Archeology
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Law and Government
- Geography
- Sociology and Anthropology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Active Listening
- Instructing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Time Management
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Recognition
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Social Orientation
- Integrity
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
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
- JavaScript
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
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
- Google Maps
- Handheld microphones
- Interactive maps
- Interactive whiteboard controllers
Work Environment
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $47,730 |
| Median | $81,500 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $158,140 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 19,860
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $84,290
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $95,770
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $82,540
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $94,680
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $78,050
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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.