Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC code 25-1062 · O*NET-SOC 25-1062.00 · Extensive preparation needed · Education and library
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$85,020
a year
Hourly
—
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$98,330
— per hour
Middle 50%
$65,660 – $110,710
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$52,070 – $160,420
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
11,300
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $52,070
- —/hr
- 25th percentile
- $65,660
- —/hr
- Median percentile
- $85,020
- —/hr
- 75th percentile
- $110,710
- —/hr
- 90th percentile
- $160,420
- —/hr
What do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary do?
Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- 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, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold doctoral degree — 61% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- 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
- 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.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Doctoral Degree61%
- Master's Degree31%
- Post-Doctoral Training4%
- Post-Master's Certificate3%
Common questions
How much does an area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary earn?
The national median is $85,020 a year. The full range runs from $52,070 at the 10th percentile to $160,420 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is 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). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.3/5
- Speaking4.1/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Active Learning4.0/5
- Learning Strategies4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training4.6/5
- English Language4.6/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.7/5
- History and Archeology3.6/5
- Foreign Language3.5/5
- Communications and Media3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.3/5
- Philosophy and Theology3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness.