Compensation
Median Pay
$75,870
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$75,870
Projected Growth
3.4%
Annual Openings
200
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
3,200
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
3.4%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
200
Estimated openings created each year.
Pathway
Preparation
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
STEP 1
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
STEP 2
Experience
None
STEP 3
Training
None
Top Skills for Success
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Speaking & listening
86 / 100
86%
Adaptability
83 / 100
83%
Leadership
77 / 100
77%
Writing & reading
77 / 100
77%
Creativity & innovation
75 / 100
75%
Interpersonal
68 / 100
68%
Critical & analytical thinking
67 / 100
67%
Problem solving & decision making
65 / 100
65%
Science
59 / 100
59%
Computers & information technology
58 / 100
58%
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Location Intelligence
Best Places for This Career
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Best Metro Areas
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
- Top-paying cities
- Fast-growing markets
- Local opportunity rankings
CAREERGPS INSIGHTS
Career Analysis for Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary, typically work in colleges and universities, focusing on advanced education in this field. Nationally, this is a relatively small occupation with 3,000 workers, but it offers a structured professional path with a national median salary of $77,280 and a projected employment growth rate of 3.4%. The role combines subject matter expertise with skills such as speaking and listening, writing and reading, leadership, and critical and analytical thinking. Creativity and innovation, interpersonal strengths, and comfort with science and computers and information technology also contribute to success in this career. For people who enjoy teaching at the postsecondary level and are prepared to pursue a doctoral or professional degree, this occupation can offer a specialized and stable academic pathway. Similar career directions include other postsecondary teaching roles such as social sciences teachers, business teachers, and middle or secondary school teaching positions for those interested in related educational work.
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary, earn a national median salary of $77,280, placing the role in a solid earnings range within education-focused careers. Pay levels vary by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $97,620, notably higher than Virginia at $63,580, Washington at $63,840, and New Jersey at $53,250. Pennsylvania also offers a relatively strong median salary of $78,220. At the metro level, several California areas show high median pay: Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom at $99,510, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad at $97,860, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at $97,020. In contrast, the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro reports a median salary of $53,460, despite a high opportunity score. Overall, earnings potential is influenced significantly by geography, with certain California metros offering the highest reported median pay in this field.
Job Outlook for Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
This occupation has national employment of 3,000, indicating a relatively small specialized workforce. The projected employment growth rate is 3.4%, suggesting modest expansion over the projection period. Annual openings are reported as 0, which highlights that, based on these data, ongoing hiring needs may be limited or highly competitive. However, growth of 3.4% still indicates that some new positions are expected to emerge over time, even though they may not translate into a large number of openings each year. For individuals considering this career, the combination of a clearly defined academic role and measured growth may appeal to those who are focused on long-term planning and are prepared to navigate a potentially tight job market. Related roles such as other postsecondary teachers or middle and secondary school teachers may provide additional pathways for people interested in teaching-focused careers.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary?
Location plays a major role in both opportunity and pay for family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary. Among states, California ranks highest by opportunity score (67.38), with a median salary of $97,620 and employment of 380. Washington, Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania also appear as strong locations, with opportunity scores ranging from 47.45 to 56.29 and median salaries from $53,250 in New Jersey to $78,220 in Pennsylvania. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City region has the highest opportunity score at 77.27, though its median salary of $53,460 is lower than several California metros. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, and Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom all report opportunity scores above 52 and median salaries around or above $97,000. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro offers a median salary of $78,400. These differences show that some regions combine strong opportunity scores with higher median pay, while others offer high opportunity scores with more moderate earnings.
Education for Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education requirement for family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary, is a doctoral or professional degree. This advanced education aligns with the expectations of teaching at the college or university level and supports the development of deep subject expertise and academic skills. Success in this field also relies on a broad set of competencies. Strong speaking and listening skills, along with effective writing and reading, are central to teaching and academic communication. Leadership, adaptability, and interpersonal skills support work with students, colleagues, and institutions. Critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, are important for designing courses, evaluating information, and guiding learners. The skill profile is rounded out by strengths in science and in computers and information technology, reflecting the value of evidence-based approaches and comfort with digital tools in modern postsecondary education. Together, the education level and skills define a highly trained professional role.
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