What Do University Lecturers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for university lecturers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what university lecturers 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.
University Lecturers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about university lecturers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
University Lecturers all teachers and instructors not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For University Lecturers
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 university lecturers can be found.
Best Industries for University Lecturers
University Lecturers 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 university lecturers can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2022, about 30.9% of all jobs for university lecturers 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 University Lecturers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what university lecturers 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 university lecturers 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 university lecturers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for university lecturers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's University Lecturers
Based on 43,553 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for University Lecturers
| 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 University Lecturers
| 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 university lecturers, 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 university lecturers, 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 University Lecturers
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 university lecturers.
| 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 university lecturers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for university lecturers.
How much do university lecturers make?
University Lecturers: How do you become one?
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