What Do Instructors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for instructors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what instructors do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Instructors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about instructors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Instructors aggregate category equivalent to SOC group 25-1000. Teach undergraduate and graduate level courses in their specialized field of study. Include both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of both teaching and research. Alternate titles: College Professor.
Popular Job Titles For Instructors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Adjunct Faculties
- Adjunct Instructors
- Assistant Professors
- Assistant/Associate Professors
- Nursing Faculties
- Non-Tenure Track Faculties
- Assistant/Associate/Full Professors
- Nursing Instructors
- Tenure-Track Assistant/Associate Professors
- Assistant Professors of Psychology
- Biology Adjunct Faculties
- Nursing Adjunct Faculties
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for instructors can be found.
Best Industries for Instructors
Instructors Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 43.7%
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 35.5%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 15.2%
- Technical and Trade Schools: 2.5%
- Junior Colleges: 0.8%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 0.5%
- Other: 1.8%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of instructors can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (State Government) sector. In 2023, about 43.7% of all jobs for instructors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (35.5%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (15.2%), Technical and Trade Schools (2.5%), Junior Colleges (0.8%) and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (0.5%).
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Degree Options for Instructors
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Focus your online doctoral program at Franklin University and earn an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction (Doctor of Education in Instructional Design Leadership).Focus your online doctoral program at Franklin University and earn an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction (Doctor of Education in Instructional Design Leadership).
- Years To Complete: 3
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Educational and business settings need effective and ethical leaders. Franklin’s 3-year Ed.D. with a focus on Organization Leadership equips you to become a transformative leader. With this 100% online doctor of education, you’ll develop expertise in educational technology, data-driven decision making and real-world change management.
- Years To Complete: 3
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- Years To Complete: 3
Rise to meet the unique challenges of a higher education leader with Franklin’s 12-month online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a focus in Higher Education Leadership. The broad-based, theory-to-practice program will prepare you to manage systems and processes that contribute to student achievement.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
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- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Instructors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what instructors do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work instructors do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that instructors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for instructors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Instructors
Based on 223,117 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Instructors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 26,980 | 12% |
| Nursing | 21,390 | 10% |
| Pedagogy | 15,473 | 7% |
| Learning Management Systems | 14,724 | 7% |
| Biology | 13,524 | 6% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Instructors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 170,693 | 77% |
| Research | 79,833 | 36% |
| Communication | 57,414 | 26% |
| Writing | 33,536 | 15% |
| Leadership | 32,768 | 15% |
Based on 223,117 job postings related to instructors, curriculum development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 12% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for nursing, pedagogy, learning management systems, biology and psychology were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for instructors, followed by research, communication, writing, leadership and mentorship.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 26,980 | 12% |
| Nursing | 21,390 | 10% |
| Pedagogy | 15,473 | 7% |
| Learning Management Systems | 14,724 | 7% |
| Biology | 13,524 | 6% |
| Psychology | 12,425 | 6% |
| Computer Science | 12,322 | 6% |
| Syllabus Development | 11,847 | 5% |
| Statistics | 11,376 | 5% |
| Student Engagement | 11,267 | 5% |
| Online Teaching | 11,230 | 5% |
| Social Sciences | 10,841 | 5% |
| Lecturing | 10,421 | 5% |
| Health Sciences | 9,681 | 4% |
| Educational Assessment | 9,307 | 4% |
| Academic Advising | 9,171 | 4% |
| Distance Learning | 9,170 | 4% |
| Marketing | 9,067 | 4% |
| Clinical Experience | 8,628 | 4% |
| Talent Management | 8,479 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 170,693 | 77% |
| Research | 79,833 | 36% |
| Communication | 57,414 | 26% |
| Writing | 33,536 | 15% |
| Leadership | 32,768 | 15% |
| Mentorship | 32,439 | 15% |
| Management | 27,726 | 12% |
| Advising | 26,066 | 12% |
| Innovation | 25,973 | 12% |
| Planning | 18,582 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 17,061 | 8% |
| English Language | 16,651 | 7% |
| Mathematics | 15,416 | 7% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 13,149 | 6% |
| Presentations | 12,050 | 5% |
| Operations | 10,250 | 5% |
| Microsoft Office | 9,782 | 4% |
| Coordinating | 9,455 | 4% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 9,270 | 4% |
| Professionalism | 9,152 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Instructors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Faculties | 20,607 | 19.5% |
| Adjunct Instructors | 7,039 | 6.7% |
| Assistant Professors | 10,883 | 10.3% |
| Assistant/Associate Professors | 6,642 | 6.3% |
| Nursing Faculties | 8,061 | 7.6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was adjunct faculties, with 10,590 unique job postings. Adjunct instructors were second, with 3,095 postings, followed by assistant professors, assistant/associate professors and nursing faculties.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to instructors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Faculties | 20,607 | 19.5% |
| Adjunct Instructors | 7,039 | 6.7% |
| Assistant Professors | 10,883 | 10.3% |
| Assistant/Associate Professors | 6,642 | 6.3% |
| Nursing Faculties | 8,061 | 7.6% |
| Non-Tenure Track Faculties | 6,533 | 6.2% |
| Assistant/Associate/Full Professors | 4,842 | 4.6% |
| Nursing Instructors | 5,143 | 4.9% |
| Tenure-Track Assistant/Associate Professors | 3,381 | 3.2% |
| Assistant Professors of Psychology | 3,303 | 3.1% |
| Biology Adjunct Faculties | 3,001 | 2.8% |
| Nursing Adjunct Faculties | 2,952 | 2.8% |
| Associate Professors | 3,572 | 3.4% |
| Driving Instructors | 3,898 | 3.7% |
| University Professors | 1,933 | 1.8% |
| Tenure-Track Professors | 2,874 | 2.7% |
| Adjuncts | 2,186 | 2.1% |
| Assistant Professors of Computer Science | 2,767 | 2.6% |
| Lecturers | 3,634 | 3.4% |
| Open Rank Faculties | 2,567 | 2.4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for instructors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for instructors.
How much do instructors make?
Instructors: How do you become one?
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