What Do Professors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for professors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what professors 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.
Professors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about professors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Professors all teachers and instructors not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For Professors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for professors can be found.
Best Industries for Professors
Professors Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 30.1%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 12.6%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 12.2%
- Federal Government, Military: 8.1%
- Other Schools and Instruction: 7.7%
- Educational Support Services: 4.9%
- Other: 24.4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of professors can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 30.1% of all jobs for professors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (12.6%), Federal Government, Civilian (12.2%), Federal Government, Military (8.1%), Other Schools and Instruction (7.7%) and Educational Support Services (4.9%).
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- Years To Complete: 3
What Do Professors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what professors 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 professors 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 professors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Professors
Most In-Demand Jobs for Professors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was , with 0 unique job postings. were second, with 0 postings, followed by .
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to professors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for professors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for professors.
How much do professors make?
Professors: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.