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Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

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Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary: Job Description

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

What Tasks Do Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?

The day-to-day responsibilities of computer science teachers, postsecondary cover:

  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as programming, data structures, and software design.
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.

Skills and Knowledge

Successful computer science teachers, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.

Key Skills

The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Instructing  4.1 / 5
0
5
Writing  4.0 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Speaking  4.0 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.9 / 5
0
5

Top Knowledge Areas

Computers and Electronics  4.8 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  4.8 / 5
0
5
English Language  4.2 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  4.0 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  3.9 / 5
0
5
Engineering and Technology  3.8 / 5
0
5

Common job titles for this role include:

  • Adjunct Computer Science Professor
  • Adjunct Instructor
  • Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • C++ Professor
  • College Faculty Member
  • College Professor
  • Computer Applications Instructor

Job Outlook

The U.S. employs around 1,386,828 computer science teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -4.2% over the projection horizon.

Forecasted number of jobs for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Salary for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Statistic Value
Annual median $35,659
Hourly median $17.14
10th percentile $20,000
25th percentile $27,803
75th percentile $43,516
90th percentile $51,373

Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.

Salary ranges for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

How Much Do Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary Make in Different U.S. States?

State Annual median salary
California $137,450
Virginia $124,850
Connecticut $109,470
Massachusetts $108,780
Michigan $105,200
Illinois $102,560
Nevada $102,340
Maine $101,100
Utah $100,340
Wisconsin $99,730
New York $99,330
New Jersey $98,720
Pennsylvania $98,600
Texas $98,280
Maryland $98,010
New Hampshire $97,250
Oregon $97,000
Rhode Island $95,750
District of Columbia $95,740
Georgia $95,260
Vermont $93,920
Missouri $91,120
Alabama $88,440
Nebraska $86,890
Iowa $86,130
Tennessee $85,680
Indiana $84,490
Montana $83,220
South Carolina $82,520
Minnesota $81,480
Delaware $81,350
Oklahoma $80,890
Florida $80,390
Arizona $80,230
Washington $80,110
Kentucky $79,780
Idaho $79,600
Louisiana $79,480
North Dakota $78,700
Colorado $78,370
North Carolina $77,800
Ohio $76,630
New Mexico $76,230
West Virginia $75,320
Puerto Rico $74,170
South Dakota $73,340
Kansas $70,880
Arkansas $64,750
Hawaii $64,370
Mississippi $64,190

Top-Paying U.S. Regions

Compensation for computer science teachers, postsecondary vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:

Region Median annual wage Share of U.S. jobs Location quotient
Far Western US $120,284 11.0% 0.69
New England $106,323 6.4% 1.43
Middle Atlantic $98,480 20.7% 1.37
Southwest $93,545 13.3% 1.08
Great Lakes $92,640 13.0% 0.98
Southeast $91,306 24.5% 1.17
Rocky Mountains $84,838 4.1% 1.14
Plains States $83,603 6.0% 0.93

Where the Jobs Cluster

Metro area State Median annual wage Employment
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA CA $166,630 80
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA CA $163,920 410
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA CA $161,710 190
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA CA $161,010 330
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA CA $154,420 250
Champaign-Urbana, IL IL $140,320 250
Fresno, CA CA $139,380 70
Ann Arbor, MI MI $136,490 160

Industry Breakdown

The largest employers of computer science teachers, postsecondary are concentrated in the following sectors:

Industry Employment Median annual wage
Educational Services 36,220 n/a

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Tech Stack

  • Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
  • Development environment software: C (hot technology)
  • Object or component oriented development software: C# (hot technology)
  • Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
  • Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
  • Web platform development software: Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
  • Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
  • Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
  • Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
  • Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
  • Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
  • Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)

What the Workplace Is Like

The work environment for computer science teachers, postsecondary is shaped by the following characteristics:

  • E-Mail
  • Freedom to Make Decisions
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  • Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
  • Contact With Others

How to Become Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical computer science teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.

Similar Occupations

Similar Occupations

Top Programs to Study For This Career

Future computer science teachers, postsecondary typically earn programs in:

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

10 programs across 7 majors

Sources

Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
  • BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
  • O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.

SOC code: 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary).

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