Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary fall under the Education, Training, and Library category in the U.S. occupational classification. Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median salary of $80,330 per year, ranking in the top 23% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.6% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do psychology teachers, postsecondary earn?

The median annual wage for psychology teachers, postsecondary is $80,330. That puts psychology teachers, postsecondary at #188 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is psychology teachers, postsecondary a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for psychology teachers, postsecondary is +3.6%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 52K positions in 2024 to 54K in 2034, a net change of 2K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do psychology teachers, postsecondary do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working psychology teachers, postsecondary, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
2. 2.Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
3. 3.Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
4. 4.Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
5. 5.Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
6. 6.Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
7. 7.Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
8. 8.Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.

Top skills for psychology teachers, postsecondary

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become psychology teachers, postsecondary?

The standard path into psychology teachers, postsecondary begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Law Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
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Common questions parents ask about psychology teachers, postsecondary