Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Salary Overview

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Key Skills

Knowledge Areas

What They Do

• Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics.
• Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
• Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
• Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
• Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
• Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
• Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
• Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

Tools & Technology

★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)

Education Requirements

Typical entry-level education: Related Work Experience

Related Careers

Featured In

Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Economics Teachers, Postsecondary.

A Day in the Life

A typical day for a postsecondary economics teacher begins with reviewing lecture notes and updating course materials to reflect current economic events. Morning hours are often spent delivering lectures on topics ranging from microeconomic theory to international trade policy, using real-world data sets to illustrate abstract concepts. Between classes, professors hold office hours where students seek help with problem sets, thesis proposals, or career advice. Afternoons may involve faculty committee meetings, peer-reviewing journal submissions, or collaborating with colleagues on research projects. Many economics professors spend significant time analyzing data using statistical software, writing papers for academic journals, and preparing grant proposals. The workday frequently extends into evenings during grading periods, especially when evaluating complex econometric analyses or lengthy research papers. Some professors also advise student economics clubs or participate in university governance, adding variety to their schedules.

Work Environment

Postsecondary economics teachers work primarily in college and university settings, splitting their time between classrooms, offices, and research spaces. The academic calendar provides a structured rhythm, with intensive teaching periods during fall and spring semesters and more flexible schedules during summer and winter breaks. Most professors enjoy considerable autonomy in designing their courses, choosing research topics, and managing their daily schedules. The culture is intellectually stimulating, with regular seminars, visiting speaker series, and conferences that foster scholarly debate. While the work is largely sedentary and office-based, travel for conferences, guest lectures, and collaborative research is common. Stress can peak during tenure review periods, grant application deadlines, and end-of-semester grading marathons. Many institutions support remote work for research activities, and some professors teach online courses, adding flexibility to their work arrangements.

Career Path & Advancement

Becoming a postsecondary economics teacher almost universally requires a Ph.D. in economics, which typically takes five to seven years beyond a bachelor's degree. During doctoral studies, aspiring professors develop expertise in subfields like labor economics, public finance, or behavioral economics while gaining teaching experience as graduate assistants. Entry-level positions usually begin as assistant professors on tenure-track appointments, where the expectation is to publish original research, secure grants, and demonstrate teaching effectiveness over a probationary period of five to seven years. Successful candidates earn tenure and promotion to associate professor, providing job security and academic freedom. Further advancement to full professor depends on sustained research productivity and professional reputation. Some economics professors move into administrative roles such as department chair, dean, or provost, leveraging their analytical skills in institutional leadership. Others transition to senior research positions at think tanks, central banks, or international organizations like the World Bank or IMF.

Specializations

Postsecondary economics teaching encompasses a wide range of specializations that reflect the discipline's breadth. Macroeconomists focus on national and global economic systems, studying phenomena like inflation, unemployment, and monetary policy. Microeconomists analyze individual and firm behavior, market structures, and resource allocation decisions. Econometricians specialize in statistical methods for testing economic theories and forecasting trends using large datasets. Development economists study poverty, inequality, and growth strategies in emerging economies. Behavioral economists integrate psychological insights into economic models, challenging traditional assumptions about rational decision-making. Health economists examine healthcare markets, insurance systems, and the economic impact of public health policies. Environmental economists study the economic dimensions of climate change, resource depletion, and sustainability, a field of growing importance in academic and policy circles.

Pros & Cons

Industry Insight

The field of postsecondary economics education is being reshaped by several powerful trends. The integration of data science and machine learning into economic research is expanding the toolkit professors need to master and teach, blurring boundaries between economics and computer science. Growing demand for economics graduates in the tech sector, finance, and public policy is driving enrollment increases and creating pressure for more applied, skills-oriented curricula. Online and hybrid teaching formats, accelerated by the pandemic, continue to evolve, with many institutions investing in digital learning platforms and asynchronous course delivery. Interdisciplinary collaboration is increasing, with economists partnering with political scientists, sociologists, and public health researchers on complex societal challenges. The push for diversity and inclusion in economics is gaining momentum, with initiatives to recruit underrepresented students and faculty reshaping departmental cultures. Funding landscapes are shifting as well, with more emphasis on policy-relevant research that addresses inequality, climate change, and technological disruption.