Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC Code: 25-1122.00
Education & LibraryPostsecondary communications teachers shape the next generation of media professionals, public relations specialists, and organizational communicators from within the academic halls of colleges and universities. With a median salary of $77,800, these educators combine scholarly research with practical instruction in areas such as journalism, broadcasting, digital media, and strategic communication. The role offers intellectual freedom, the chance to publish original research, and the satisfaction of mentoring students entering one of the most dynamic and evolving professional fields. For those passionate about both communication theory and teaching, this career provides a meaningful blend of academic rigor and real-world relevance.
Salary Overview
Median
$77,800
25th Percentile
$60,060
75th Percentile
$103,230
90th Percentile
$160,210
Salary Distribution
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Growth Rate
+2.1%
New Openings
2,700
Outlook
Slower than average
Key Skills
Knowledge Areas
What They Do
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
Tools & Technology
★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)
Education Requirements
Typical entry-level education: Master's Degree
Related Careers
Top Career Pivot Targets
View all 36 →Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Communications Teachers, Postsecondary.
A Day in the Life
A communications professor's day typically balances classroom teaching, research activities, and service commitments to the university and the broader academic community. Morning hours might be spent lecturing on media theory, leading seminar discussions on public relations campaigns, or supervising student media productions in campus studios and labs. Between classes, professors hold office hours to advise students on coursework, thesis projects, career plans, and graduate school applications. Research occupies significant portions of the week, including conducting studies on media effects, analyzing communication trends, writing scholarly articles, and preparing conference presentations. Faculty meetings, curriculum committee work, and departmental planning sessions round out the administrative side of the role. Many professors also engage in community outreach, consulting with media organizations, or providing expert commentary to news outlets on communication-related topics. The workload intensifies during grading periods and at the end of semesters when final projects, exams, and grade submissions converge.
Work Environment
Postsecondary communications teachers work primarily on college and university campuses, dividing their time between classrooms, offices, media labs, and campus studios equipped with broadcast and production technology. The academic calendar provides a structured rhythm, with fall and spring semesters of intense teaching and grading balanced by summer and winter breaks that allow concentrated research time. Most full-time faculty enjoy significant autonomy in scheduling their non-teaching hours, with flexibility to work from home on research, writing, and course preparation. The collegial atmosphere encourages intellectual exchange through departmental seminars, faculty research groups, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Class sizes vary widely, from large lecture halls with hundreds of students to intimate graduate seminars with fewer than ten. The culture values academic freedom, critical inquiry, and the open exchange of ideas, creating an intellectually stimulating environment. However, the pressure to publish, secure research funding, and maintain high teaching evaluations can create sustained stress, particularly for pre-tenure faculty navigating the demands of the tenure clock.
Career Path & Advancement
Becoming a postsecondary communications teacher almost universally requires earning a doctoral degree in communications, media studies, journalism, or a closely related field, a process that typically takes five to seven years beyond the bachelor's degree. The journey usually begins with a bachelor's degree in communications, followed by a master's degree that deepens specialization and provides initial teaching experience as a graduate assistant. Doctoral programs involve intensive coursework in communication theory, research methodology, and a specialized area of focus, culminating in a dissertation based on original research. Early-career academics typically begin as adjunct instructors or visiting professors before securing tenure-track assistant professor positions. The tenure process spans six to seven years of demonstrated excellence in teaching, sustained research publication, and meaningful service to the institution. Promotion through the ranks from assistant to associate to full professor reflects increasing scholarly impact and professional recognition. Some senior faculty move into administrative roles such as department chair, dean, or provost, while others focus on building distinguished research careers or establishing centers of excellence in specialized communication areas.
Specializations
The communications discipline encompasses a rich array of specializations that reflect the breadth of the modern media landscape. Journalism educators focus on news writing, investigative reporting, media ethics, and the evolving digital news ecosystem. Public relations professors teach strategic communication, crisis management, brand communication, and media relations to students preparing for corporate and agency careers. Organizational communication specialists examine internal communication structures, leadership communication, and interpersonal dynamics within workplace settings. Media studies scholars analyze the cultural, political, and social effects of mass media across platforms from television to social media. Digital media and emerging technology faculty explore content creation, social media strategy, data-driven communication, and multimedia storytelling. Health communication professors study how messaging influences public health behaviors, patient-provider interactions, and health campaign effectiveness. Intercultural communication specialists research how cultural differences affect message interpretation, conflict resolution, and global media consumption patterns.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓The median salary of $77,800 combined with comprehensive university benefits provides solid financial stability and retirement security.
- ✓Academic freedom allows professors to pursue research topics they find intellectually compelling and personally meaningful.
- ✓Flexible scheduling outside of class hours enables a self-directed work style uncommon in most professions.
- ✓Summer and winter breaks provide extended periods for research, travel, writing, and personal renewal.
- ✓Mentoring students and witnessing their professional development creates deep personal satisfaction and lasting impact.
- ✓Tenure provides exceptional job security and protection for exploring controversial or unconventional research questions.
- ✓The intellectual community of a university campus fosters continuous learning and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Challenges
- ✗Earning the required doctoral degree demands five to seven years of intensive study with relatively low graduate student compensation.
- ✗The tenure-track job market is extremely competitive, with many qualified candidates competing for limited positions nationwide.
- ✗The pressure to publish research, secure grants, and maintain high teaching evaluations creates chronic stress, especially pre-tenure.
- ✗Grading large volumes of student work, particularly written assignments and media projects, consumes significant time each semester.
- ✗University bureaucracy and committee service obligations can feel tedious and detract from core teaching and research priorities.
- ✗Geographic flexibility is limited, as tenure-track openings may require relocating to regions far from preferred locations.
- ✗Adjunct and non-tenure-track positions offer significantly lower pay and minimal job security, creating a two-tiered employment system.
Industry Insight
The landscape of communications education is being reshaped by rapid changes in media technology, shifting student demographics, and evolving industry demands for graduates with practical digital skills. Programs are increasingly integrating data analytics, social media strategy, and multimedia content creation into curricula traditionally focused on theory and print journalism. The decline of traditional media outlets has prompted many communications departments to emphasize entrepreneurial journalism, content marketing, and strategic communication career paths. Online and hybrid teaching formats, accelerated by necessity during recent years, are now permanent fixtures in communications education, requiring faculty to develop new pedagogical approaches. Artificial intelligence tools for content generation, media monitoring, and audience analysis are creating both ethical debates and curricular opportunities that communications faculty must address. Enrollment trends show growing student interest in digital media production, esports communication, and influencer marketing, pushing departments to adapt or create new course offerings. Interdisciplinary programs combining communications with data science, public health, or business are emerging as institutions recognize the cross-cutting nature of effective communication in every professional field.
How to Break Into This Career
The most critical step for aspiring communications professors is gaining admission to a reputable doctoral program that aligns with their research interests and provides funded graduate assistantship positions. Building a strong academic profile during undergraduate and master's studies through excellent grades, published papers, and conference presentations significantly improves doctoral program admission chances. Teaching experience gained as a graduate teaching assistant is invaluable, as it demonstrates classroom competency and builds a teaching portfolio that hiring committees evaluate closely. Publishing research in respected academic journals during graduate school establishes scholarly credibility and provides a competitive edge on the job market. Attending and presenting at major conferences such as those hosted by the National Communication Association or the Association for Education in Journalism builds professional networks and visibility within the field. Gaining practical industry experience in journalism, public relations, or media production before or during graduate studies enriches teaching with real-world perspective that students and hiring committees value. Securing strong letters of recommendation from established scholars who can speak to both research potential and teaching ability is essential for landing tenure-track positions.
Career Pivot Tips
Postsecondary communications teachers develop a sophisticated skill set that translates powerfully across academic, corporate, and creative sectors. The research methodology expertise gained through conducting and publishing scholarly studies transfers directly into market research, consumer insights, and strategic planning roles at communications agencies and corporate marketing departments. Exceptional presentation and public speaking abilities developed through years of lecturing make former professors compelling candidates for corporate training, executive coaching, and professional development leadership positions. Deep knowledge of media theory and audience behavior positions communications academics for transitions into media consulting, content strategy, and digital marketing leadership. Writing skills refined through academic publishing and grant writing transfer to content development, editorial management, and thought leadership roles across industries. Experience managing student projects, advising theses, and chairing committees provides project management and mentorship capabilities valued in organizational leadership positions. Many communications professors successfully pivot into media production, documentary filmmaking, or podcast creation, leveraging their subject-matter expertise and storytelling skills for public audiences.
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