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
- Lecturers
- Adjuncts
- Summer School Teachers
- University Lecturers
- Certified Teachers
- Adjunct Lecturers
- Physical Education Teachers
- Japanese Teachers
- Continuing Education Instructors
- El Teachers
- Adjunct College Professors
- Adult Education Instructors
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): 30.9%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 13.1%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 11.7%
- Federal Government, Military: 8.6%
- Other Schools and Instruction: 5.7%
- Religious Organizations: 3.8%
- Other: 26.2%
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 2022, about 30.9% of all jobs for professors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (13.1%), Federal Government, Civilian (11.7%), Federal Government, Military (8.6%), Other Schools and Instruction (5.7%) and Religious Organizations (3.8%).
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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 specialized skills found in job postings for professors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Professors
Based on 43,553 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Professors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 3,397 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 3,034 | 7% |
| Pedagogy | 2,843 | 7% |
| Physical Education | 2,183 | 5% |
| Social Sciences | 2,107 | 5% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Professors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 28,974 | 67% |
| Communications | 13,057 | 30% |
| Multilingualism | 7,948 | 18% |
| Research | 7,832 | 18% |
| Writing | 6,581 | 15% |
Based on 43,553 job postings related to professors, curriculum development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 8% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for lesson planning, pedagogy, physical education, social sciences and bilingual (spanish/english) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for professors, followed by communications, multilingualism, research, writing and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 3,397 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 3,034 | 7% |
| Pedagogy | 2,843 | 7% |
| Physical Education | 2,183 | 5% |
| Social Sciences | 2,107 | 5% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 2,018 | 5% |
| Learning Management Systems | 1,969 | 5% |
| Online Teaching | 1,871 | 4% |
| Student Engagement | 1,867 | 4% |
| Merchandising | 1,762 | 4% |
| Classroom Management | 1,751 | 4% |
| Nursing | 1,668 | 4% |
| Powertrain | 1,632 | 4% |
| Biology | 1,587 | 4% |
| Special Education | 1,554 | 4% |
| Syllabus Development | 1,530 | 4% |
| Psychology | 1,524 | 3% |
| Colocation | 1,513 | 3% |
| Computer Science | 1,440 | 3% |
| Lecturing | 1,413 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 28,974 | 67% |
| Communications | 13,057 | 30% |
| Multilingualism | 7,948 | 18% |
| Research | 7,832 | 18% |
| Writing | 6,581 | 15% |
| English Language | 5,344 | 12% |
| Management | 4,514 | 10% |
| Leadership | 4,422 | 10% |
| Planning | 4,339 | 10% |
| Innovation | 3,716 | 9% |
| Mentorship | 3,498 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 3,367 | 8% |
| Spanish Language | 3,159 | 7% |
| Mathematics | 3,155 | 7% |
| Advising | 3,082 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 2,698 | 6% |
| Sales | 2,427 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,323 | 5% |
| Problem Solving | 2,156 | 5% |
| Coordinating | 1,850 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Professors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lecturers | 6,193 | 21.5% |
| Adjuncts | 2,567 | 8.9% |
| Summer School Teachers | 2,341 | 8.1% |
| University Lecturers | 1,639 | 5.7% |
| Certified Teachers | 1,936 | 6.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was lecturers, with 1,741 unique job postings. Adjuncts were second, with 1,258 postings, followed by summer school teachers, university lecturers and certified teachers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to professors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lecturers | 6,193 | 21.5% |
| Adjuncts | 2,567 | 8.9% |
| Summer School Teachers | 2,341 | 8.1% |
| University Lecturers | 1,639 | 5.7% |
| Certified Teachers | 1,936 | 6.7% |
| Adjunct Lecturers | 1,936 | 6.7% |
| Physical Education Teachers | 1,499 | 5.2% |
| Japanese Teachers | 1,113 | 3.9% |
| Continuing Education Instructors | 1,221 | 4.2% |
| El Teachers | 791 | 2.8% |
| Adjunct College Professors | 475 | 1.7% |
| Adult Education Instructors | 690 | 2.4% |
| Lecturers in Computer Science | 686 | 2.4% |
| College Lecturers | 750 | 2.6% |
| Open Rank Professors | 675 | 2.3% |
| Leo Lecturers | 1,065 | 3.7% |
| Bilingual Spanish Customer Service Representatives | 710 | 2.5% |
| Professors | 890 | 3.1% |
| Guest Teachers | 1,044 | 3.6% |
| Adjunct Instructors | 533 | 1.9% |
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?
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