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Job outlook for instructors in the United States
Instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected instructor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for instructors are projected over the next decade.
Instructor salaries have increased 6% for instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 278,025 instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 39,273 active instructor job openings in the US.
The average instructor salary is $53,426.
Are instructor jobs in demand?
Instructor job and salary trends over time
Instructor jobs over time
Instructor job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 278,025 | 0.08% |
| 2020 | 1,015,332 | 0.30% |
| 2019 | 1,031,660 | 0.31% |
| 2018 | 475,150 | 0.14% |
| 2017 | 480,352 | 0.15% |
Average instructor salary over time
Instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,426 | $25.69 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $52,121 | $25.06 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | $51,979 | $24.99 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $51,051 | $24.54 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $50,186 | $24.13 | +3.7% |
Instructor jobs by state
Most common states for instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 578 | 10% |
| 2 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 827 | 8% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 660 | 8% |
| 4 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 397 | 8% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 60 | 8% |
| 6 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 46 | 8% |
| 7 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 744 | 7% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 307 | 7% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 78 | 7% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 71 | 7% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 513 | 6% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 176 | 6% |
| 13 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 42 | 6% |
| 14 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,885 | 5% |
| 15 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 487 | 5% |
| 16 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 366 | 5% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 307 | 5% |
| 18 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 141 | 5% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 66 | 5% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 31 | 5% |
Most common cities for instructors
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Lansing | 31 | 63% | $58,923 |
| 2 | Newington | 15 | 49% | $75,683 |
| 3 | Whittier | 29 | 33% | $58,764 |
| 4 | Aurora | 63 | 17% | $48,875 |
| 5 | Annapolis | 5 | 13% | $69,054 |
| 6 | Fort Collins | 9 | 5% | $48,708 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 13 | 3% | $50,053 |
| 8 | Saint Paul | 8 | 3% | $53,260 |
| 9 | Washington | 14 | 2% | $69,655 |
| 10 | Baltimore | 11 | 2% | $69,274 |
| 11 | Tampa | 8 | 2% | $47,844 |
| 12 | Chicago | 18 | 1% | $49,871 |
| 13 | Boston | 9 | 1% | $73,461 |
| 14 | San Diego | 9 | 1% | $58,005 |
| 15 | San Antonio | 8 | 1% | $52,846 |
| 16 | Denver | 6 | 1% | $48,868 |
| 17 | New York | 22 | 0% | $73,515 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 13 | 0% | $58,984 |
| 19 | Houston | 8 | 0% | $52,290 |
| 20 | Phoenix | 8 | 0% | $49,379 |
Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of instructor experts
Tiffin University
Christopher Newport University
Georgia College and State University
Northern Michigan University
Metropolitan State University
Hope College
University of Central Missouri
University of Washington
College of the Marshall Islands
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Duke University
Newberry College
Springfield College
University of New Hampshire
University of Arizona
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Deanne Stephens Ph.D.: In beginning a career in the history field of teaching, salary is always a point of concern, as universities, colleges, and community colleges have various starting points. To maximize a salary if a person is interested in becoming a professor or instructor of history, some advantages can help the negotiation process. First, a publication or contract in hand is a plus in seeking a better salary at a university or college. Also, any teaching record is advantageous at all levels of teaching. These classes should include experiences outside of Graduate Assistantships if possible. A candidate should also engage in professional organizations and conferences to list on a Curriculum Vitae. The acceptance of a proposal to a professional conference equates to the ability to research, analyze, and compose information about a specific topic. These are skills that schools desire because it normally means success in a history career.
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Amy Wilkinson PhD: Dance instructors must be skilled in whatever discipline they are teaching, so it is important to continue to train by taking dance classes by other excellent dance instructors as well as practicing self-care in terms of nutrition, sleep, and other forms of exercise/cross training. Dance instructors should also be skilled educators which means developing a teaching philosophy, having a working understanding of learning theories, and having numerous pedagogical approaches available to them. Dance instructors often teach long hours on their feet. They also move frequently from location to location - So being organized and good at time management, having clear lesson plans or learning objectives and lots of energy is important to the job. Depending on the teaching context, a dance instructor’s day might look something like this: 1. Take professional level dance class or workout 2. Teach a morning dance fitness class at a gym/dance studio or rehearse with a professional dance company 3. Break for lunch 4. Plan evening classes - determine learning objectives, develop progressive combinations, select music, create choreography, etc. 5. Teach several hours of dance classes for different level students. 6. Late dinner
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Amy Wilkinson PhD: In an age where AI and other forms of online technology are becoming more ubiquitous in various educational fields, there will always be a need and desire for human in-person dance instruction. So - in the right place, being a dance instructor can be a stable career. Being a dance instructor also allows artist educators to pursue their passions and to share their love of dance with others. It is a field that encourages embodiment and community building. Lastly, for many professional performance artists or folks with other career interests, it is a flexible job that supplements income from other professional work.
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Dr. Stuart Inglis: During fall and spring terms when the majority of classes take place, these instructors will be occupied with lesson preparation, teaching lectures, and supervising laboratory sessions. There is also likely to be office hours and review sessions that would need to be overseen. The summer term might also offer the ability to teach additional courses. The instructor may also use the more open time to pay attention to other aspects of their position. They may be involved in certain administrative functions, such as sitting on university committees or directing the laboratory facilities they teach in. They may also use the time to perform research studies that they do not necessarily have time for during the regular school year.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Stuart Inglis: Anatomy and Physiology is a unique field of study. While many feel apprehensive towards it, in particular when it involves dissection or physiology studies on animals, those who pursue it tend to be very passionate about the subject matter. As is the case for anyone who answers the call to teach, the satisfaction in educating the future generation is fulfilling. This is particularly so when working with kindred spirits who feel the same passion for the subject material. The dislikes would be the same as seen in teaching in any discipline; Interactions with apathetic and unappreciative students and pressures from administration to maintain a certain class average And received positive course evaluations.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stuart Inglis: The field of anatomy and physiology is always in demand, as it is a critical component in the education of anyone pursuing a career in the medical field. Essentially every institution of higher learning has some sort of anatomy and physiology course that needs to be taught. There has also been a general trend over the past several years of insufficient numbers of qualified candidates to replace the large number of faculty that have been retiring. Students graduating with a masters or doctoral degree in the anatomical or physiological sciences have a very good chance of being hired into vacant faculty positions. For doctoral graduates that have a successful research program, having an additional background in teaching in anatomy and physiology makes them more marketable and desirable for faculty positions focused on research but still requiring a certain amount of teaching.
Dr. Stephanie Opfer
Associate Professor of English, Assistant Dean of the School of Creative and Media ArtsTiffin University
Visual And Performing Arts
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Because of the state of higher education in our country today, teaching in higher education can be a difficult field to break into. However, most colleges and universities still hire adjunct instructors (part-time instructors). Students shouldn't be afraid to teach as an adjunct for a while to get some experience and decide if teaching is for them.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Flexibility and adaptability will be the biggest skills instructors will need. The state of higher education is changing, and the 'ivory tower' is going away. Colleges and universities are starting to focus more on career-oriented programs, which include practical and application skill sets. In order to stay relevant, the focus of humanities classes like art and film should be on teaching students analysis, synthesis, and other critical-thinking skills. The content becomes less important and becomes only the vehicle for teaching these skills.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Unfortunately, teaching as an adjunct does not pay well. Students should keep their full-time jobs and teach part-time until they find a full-time job at a college or university. That part-time teaching provides them valuable experience and connections that make them more competitive candidates for full-time positions because they'd also be competing with candidates who have PhDs. So adjunct work is more of a long-term investment rather than an immediate return. Also, even full-time teaching jobs don't pay particularly well, so they'll really need to love teaching if they want to do it full-time. If they don't like teaching as an adjunct, they won't like doing it full-time.
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Dr. Mike Levine: In the next 3–5 years, I anticipate that research will be expected that explores more interdisciplinarity; owing both to intellectual trends in the academy, and to an ever-shrinking job market, which means that more will be demanded by less people. As well, you will be expected to be an expert in the exciting, interesting research niche that you have found and written about in your dissertation; but also quite knowledgeable about a broad range of information applicable towards teaching large general education (GE) classes filled with non-major students. Expertise in both of these areas will make you more competitive and give you a broader network to work with.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mike Levine: Academia is most definitely not a career for those that want to get rich quick. It can take 5–6 years before your salary really starts to pick up steam (getting tenured, in other words). To get tenure: publish, publish, publish, while teaching and mentoring. Do some service to your department or college as well, but not so much that you get burnt out. As in any career, being seen and working with other people in your discipline, school, and area is key. So go to as many conferences as you can find funding for, and meet and work with as many people as you can. The 'cultural currency' you'll get from these interactions will come a lot sooner than actual currency will, but in academia, these two areas are often one and the same.
Matheson Sanchez Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Criminal JusticeGeorgia College and State University
Criminal Justice And Corrections
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Matheson Sanchez Ph.D.: Without a doubt, technological literacy is going to be increasingly important. Many believe that the criminal justice system is made up of “smart people” and “action people,” where the former sit in the agency headquarters and type away on computers, while the latter go out in the field and make contact with the community. This could not be further from the truth. Everyone working in all facets of the system are being asked and expected to have a working grasp on how to utilize technology to accomplish a mission. At the very least, those more action-oriented people need to be able to hold effective conversations with their intelligence community personnel—much of which will revolve around the use of artificial intelligence via facial recognition, data scraping software, and predictive technologies.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Matheson Sanchez Ph.D.: Many aspiring criminal justice professionals enter the field believing their career will be a linear, clearly defined path. I always encourage my students to enter the field with an open mind. There will be all types of people filling all types of positions. Many of those positions will have been unknown to those students until they get their foot in the door and begin working. New criminal justice system actors will likely find themselves becoming more familiar with positions that interest them greatly. It’s important not to be afraid to take a leap, make a change, and find the niche where you best fit. The CJ system is a complex, interwoven web of different jobs. Keep your eyes open and take note when one catches your eye. Job satisfaction is key for a long, healthy, enjoyable career in the CJ system.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Matheson Sanchez Ph.D.: This is a tricky question, because many salaries in the criminal justice system are set by legislative budgetary decisions. In other words, a supervisor usually has no power to offer any incentivizing packages or increased salary. However, it's not all bad news. More than ever before, many areas in the CJ system are desperate for qualified applicants to fill their ranks. This means that salaries are going up just about everywhere. Furthermore, students should consider broadening their job search to include a nation-wide scope. It can at times be worth it to relocate for a substantially higher salary. Lastly, CJ professionals should consider an advanced degree in the field, such as the top-ranked MSCJ program at Georgia College & State University. This is one of the most effective ways to increase salary and long-term earning potential in the CJ system.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Juan de la Puente Herrero: - I hate to even bring up the term, but you need to find a way to make yourself stand out among the masses who rely on A.I. to do their work. Re-learn how to string your words and ideas in a way that makes sense to you and your readers and that sounds natural. This could apply to cover letters and essays, but also simple emails, translations and in-class activities. Sadly, one of my main concerns in the workplace these days is the constant presence of artificial intelligence in everything we do. I can't predict the future, but I can definitely say that there is currently a race between professors, students and ChatGPT to see who can outsmart each other, and everyone is giving it their all. It sounds ironic, but the only way to stand out is to rely on the quality of your own work, have trustful sources, and good research skills.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Juan de la Puente Herrero: - This may not be a secret to anyone, but you need to reach out and talk to as many people as you have the energy for. I feel like people underestimate how competitive languages and linguistics can be in the professional world, so the more you know about how others 'went through it', the easier it will be for you to take the punches when they come. And they will come!
I also want to mention how I am younger compared to most of my colleagues (I'm 24), but I have noticed that there is a pattern among the professors who tend to be more popular inside and outside of the classroom: all of them have interests (not necessarily academic) that they pursue in their free time, and it does not matter what it is exactly; cooking, literature, acting, music... I think that it is extremely important to 'feel like a student' on a regular basis in order to let your students know that they are not the only ones making mistakes on a regular basis: you do, too. I don't think that this is an attitude that you can fake.
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Jonathan Varnado: Start gaining experience. In criminal justice, we often get students who are interested in becoming FBI agents, Secret Service, DEA, etc. While we do see students go straight into these agencies after graduation, sometimes they have to wait for an opening with their ideal agency. In the meantime, they could start gaining valuable experience with other agencies. It's important to understand that their dream career won't fall into their lap. They should actively be working towards meeting and exceeding the preferred qualifications for the career they desire. This also may mean obtaining an advanced degree, learning more skills, or completing an internship. In fact, I normally tell incoming freshmen that they should start looking at job postings well before graduating.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jonathan Varnado: We are seeing a lot of excitement, fear, and uncertainty around the rise and integration of Artificial Intelligence in the workforce. But what will not change, and perhaps will be even more important, are critical thinking and interpersonal communication skills. In the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, we really try to go beyond just learning the curriculum. We also try to foster empathy and understanding, so that our students are well-equipped to serve the needs of a diverse society.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Jonathan Varnado: I think one thing that we tend to forget is that a police officer is rarely just 'a police officer.' They will take on community projects. They will teach classes. They may work with kids as a resource officer. The same goes for any career in criminal justice. So it is important to build other skills that make you more valuable to your agency, and the community at-large. Understanding the broad nature of your career is the first step; then it's important to evaluate your own strengths, and then see how you can apply these in your career.
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Jason Dobrow PhD: Simply put, technology. We are already seeing technological advances in the field ranging from Body Cameras to a lot of the great work going on with Cyber Security. That should only increase in the next 3 to 5 years. Being comfortable with technology and being willing to adapt and learn is crucial to any field in the current time, Criminal Justice being no exception. The increasing use of AI is also interesting and something that all practitioners should familiarize themselves with.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jason Dobrow PhD: The general advice I would give for graduates beginning their careers in the fields of Criminal Justice is to be flexible. Similar to any field, the job market for Criminal Justice is competitive. Certainly, there are opportunities available in many areas in and related to the field but it's not typically realistic to get one's dream job right away. Being flexible allows one to gain some experience as well as gain skills that can ultimately lead to one's desired career in the field.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Jason Dobrow PhD: See the first answer. Flexibility is one of the best ways to maximize salary potential in the field. If a job is hard to fill (which many jobs in Criminal Justice are) there might be a signing bonus. Additionally at times, there is overtime pay (holidays, non-peak hours, etc.). Being flexible and taking undesired shifts or even a job that might be hard to fill could result in increased earnings. Additionally, specific skills. Technological skills are important and could help maximize future earnings. Finally, being bilingual. There are jobs that look for people who speak more than one language and at times those who possess these language skills often get paid more.
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Lindsey Hanson MFA: It's great to do something that involves face to face physical connection especially in a time when most people are working with devices. It's refreshing to put your phone or laptop away and be 100% present with others in a space. I love that at my job as a dance professor, I get to be creative every day.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lindsey Hanson MFA: Sometimes there are physical demands on the body that require a level of athleticism that could result in frequent overuse injuries. However, the ability to use your body for your job every day is a wonderful way to stay healthy and connected to your body and artistry.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Lindsey Hanson MFA: Day to day, a dance instructor will develop a clear structure within a lesson to accomplish whatever their movement objective is for the class, and it also depends on the dance style. Different objectives could be: performance quality, musicality, polyrhythms, improvisational skills, body alignment, strength, flexibility, skill progressions, coordination or working on material for an upcoming performance. There may also be several meetings with students to discuss their progress and give one on one strategies for improvement. Dance professors also have many production meetings to help facilitate department performances. A dance professor is also expected to facilitate independent research in line with their area of expertise.
Gregg Etter
Professor of Criminal Justice & CriminologyUniversity of Central Missouri
Criminal Justice And Corrections
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Gregg Etter: Most criminal justice jobs are civil service. (except lawyers which require law school) My best advice to new applicants is to know what you are doing. Look up the agency’s website and look at what they do and their hiring process. Contact a recruiter and get an information packet. Look at their hiring requirements. Is there a written exam? If so, purchase a study guide. Practicing the sample tests will raise your score 10-15%. Is there a physical agility test? Make sure you can meet or exceed the physical requirements. Be mobile, apply everywhere. If you put all your eggs in one basket and apply to a single agency, you may be very disappointed. Make sure your application is immaculate. Know all the names, addresses, e-mails and telephone numbers of all current and former employers, as well as all references. Criminal justice work is detail work. A sloppy application will get rejected.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Gregg Etter: Civil service jobs pay rates are set by the government that you work for. Pay raises are usually based on some type of seniority. However, promotions usually come with a pay raise. Learn new skills and make yourself promotable. The more you learn often works out to the more you earn.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Gregg Etter: Skills that are valuable in this field include critical thinking, problem-solving, and puzzle-solving (You have to figure out who did it and be able to prove it.) Computer skills are becoming more and more important. Take every in-service training class on how to do technical things that is offered and your administration will let you go to. People skills have always been important and are becoming more so each day. De-escalation is much better than force. Learn these skills.
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Christopher Kaiser: That is a great question and it's something I want to learn myself. I would say try and build your CV during grad school with things like service, choreography, and research. The more robust your profile, the more marketable you are.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christopher Kaiser: I think student choreography during a composition class is still being explored and is extremely important for undergrad students to explore. Also, Teaching Methods for undergrads is vital because so many students are starting to teach while in school and should have some guidance. Selfishly I want to say partnering. It is an art that is difficult to master but most choreographers incorporate it in their work.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Christopher Kaiser: I would say to be very open to all opportunities like choreography, service, and even a lunch date with a professor or a fellow grad student. Also, try and be organized. You will have your foot in many projects at the same time and it's key to prioritize time management
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Alexander Velasquez: My general advice to any graduate beginning their career in their field is to continue to learn and be a student of your craft. Be open to learning new things because you never know how they will improve your skills and qualifications. For example, I am currently learning video editing. I never thought I would bother to learn video editing, but it makes me a more versatile instructor being able to give students the option of doing video projects, combining and editing them, and having a digital record of what students have learned in the classroom. And given the rise of online learning, it's important nowadays to be an effective instructor both in the traditional in-person format and within the digital landscape.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexander Velasquez: I think that in the next three to five years the most important skills to have—and I mean this—will be critical thinking and imagination. This may sound a bit outlandish, and maybe even a bit naive, but hear me out: Artificial intelligence is making strides to the point where papers are writing themselves with simple instructions, videos are generating themselves with simple instructions, and software is beginning to write itself; and all this has been happening within the last few years. We may begin to see that in the next three to five years, once coveted programming jobs could become automated. Now, what I'm *not* saying is don't go to school for computer programming; but what I *am* saying is that the nature of work and employment *is* changing. For example, if you and and AI are making a video, and both of you have the same script, same voiceover, and so on, the only thing separating your final product from the AI's is the way you *think and imagine*, the perspective that you have as someone who can think critically about the information and lay it out in a visually appealing manner. AI can't do that—at least not yet—because it simply spits out the information it's given. But critical thought, metalevel thinking about information, is what will be one of the most important assets to have in the coming three to five years.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Alexander Velasquez: I think everyone should look into their career fields and find out what it is that makes you more valuable in that field. Are there any certifications that you can get? What is it that you need to know or learn that companies will find valuable? Much can be learned online, so pick up as many of those skills as you can, and make sure they're on your resume or CV. I believe all those things could maximize salary potential, especially when starting out.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Susi Ferrarello Ph.D: Besides the lifelong learning that you can gain thanks to philosophical work in so many areas such as AI, healthcare, HR, social media etc. philosophy can help enhance effective communication, digital literacy, cultural competence, epistemic awareness, skills in applied ethics, and policy analysis which will be valuable for addressing pressing societal challenges.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Susi Ferrarello Ph.D: I would suggest the students try to imagine themselves in as many fields as possible and be as courageous as possible with their dreams. Graduating in philosophy opens many more doors than one would expect. So, it is important to check with one's own inclination and see if and how they can get where they would like to be.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Cathy Allen: In the field of Dance, it is essential that a professional dancer maintain dance class participation on a weekly if not daily basis. Keeping your instrument (the body) in excellent physical condition and the mind sharp for picking up movement material is imperative. Taking "dance class" also connects you to the pulse of the dance community in your area along with audition posts and networking.
Sarah Wilbur Ph.D.
Duke University
Dance
What general advice would you give to an Instructor?
Sarah Wilbur Ph.D.: Artists need to unapologetically advocate for themselves and for other artists in all areas of production, employment and opportunity,
An artist’s ability to explain to strangers how dance works is a vital survival skill that pays value forward because whoever learns from this advocacy can make more nuanced invitations, going forward. Dancing and dance skill in whatever areas of specialization or cultural tradition is expected, but talent is almost never enough on its own. Dance work is advocacy work.
What Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sarah Wilbur Ph.D.: There are very few promised jobs, and even fewer shortcuts. This reality is why people flock to more economically stable careers – that said, artists can work for love and money if and when they learn to find the communities of practice where their values are honored and matched.
What will help Instructors increase their earning potential?
Sarah Wilbur Ph.D.: To work in dance, in my experience and in my research, is to work in a *number of jobs*, in a *number of diverse roles,* and in a *number of relationships* to industries, cultures, and publics. In a field as unstandardize-able as this one, my very best advice for someone who has successfully pursued an academic dance credential and has graduated from the US university is for them to become a passionate, lifelong student of dance history, dance labor, and dance value across all kinds of fields. There are very few promised jobs, and even fewer shortcuts. This reality is why people flock to more economically stable (and sometimes soul killing) lines of work, in the US.
Dr. Chris Sharp
Assistant Professor of Criminal JusticeNewberry College
Department of Social and Behavioral Science
What skills stand out on Instructor resumes?
Dr. Chris Sharp: For instructors, I look for those that have not only been in the field in some capacity but have taken the theory learned in the classroom and found ways to apply it. I want to know what innovative things they have done in their department (Crisis Intervention Team, De-escalation, Mental Health Training, Peer Mentoring, etc.). Importantly, did they do something beyond "just their job"? Also, what are the extracurriculars? You can tell a lot about a person about where they focus their free time. If their focus is on family, civic organizations, church, etc., it shows a commitment to a stable community, starting with the family.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructors?
Dr. Chris Sharp: Know how to write succinctly, clearly, and well. Your file will end up in court and will reflect you. The last thing you want to do is seem unsure, uneducated, or incompetent because you don't know how to write.
What skills will help Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Chris Sharp: Knowing strategic planning, budgeting, budget execution, and public policy analysis will give you the higher-level skills you need to move up in your career. There are certification programs out there. Find them and get certified. Also, understand human resources; not just managing people but leading people. This will make you a force in your organization.
Stephen Maris Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Graduate CoordinatorSpringfield College
Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training
What skills stand out on Instructor resumes?
Stephen Maris Ph.D.: In this new age of online learning and hybrid courses, instructors need to have a strong grasp on diverse methods of education delivery, whether it is experienced in online teaching, video design, video conferences, and other technologies. Also, in terms of instructors, it is also important to have a background in the content related to either publication in the field or scientific presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. Other skills include adaptability to different class environments, strong leadership skills, and enthusiasm for the material related to anatomy and physiology.
What soft skills should all Instructors possess?
Stephen Maris Ph.D.: The soft skills required for many instructors focus on the balance between leadership and personal skills. More specifically, the ability to have strong time management, confidence, self-management skills, and enthusiasm are very important in terms of success. In many cases, enthusiasm is what can lead to improved class engagement and can foster the same enthusiasm for the subject in the students or takers of a course.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructors?
Stephen Maris Ph.D.: The skills that are most important related to technical items are related to technology for the classroom, as well as technologies in use in the current state of anatomy and physiology literature. At this moment, that includes experience using Real-Time PCR, ELISAs, biomechanical analyses, measurements of cardiovascular function, and more. In terms of teaching the course, the instructors also need to have a strong background in the use of technology and pedagogical techniques that would be most appropriate for the class situation.
What skills will help Instructors earn the most?
Stephen Maris Ph.D.: In terms of salary, the skills that will help earn the most are skills related to productivity. Specifically related to my current position, balancing both research and teaching and exceeding in both is the primary avenue for further increases in promotion and salary. Other positions would look for teaching experience and research experience, as well as the skills underlying both, such as time management, writing ability, presentation skills, and others.
Tom Alsip
Director of Musical Theatre, Assistant ProfessorUniversity of New Hampshire
Department of Theatre and Dance
What skills stand out on Instructor resumes?
Tom Alsip: I think the most important skills are the ones that are specific to your job area while still showing that you have a range of things that you can provide to be helpful.
If I am hiring a technical theatre instructor, I want to see that you have specific skills in one specific area (lighting, sound, technical direction) but perhaps a general knowledge of the other areas as well.
The other things that stand out are a balance of skills. I want to see that you have had training in the academic side of your area but also have hands-on skills that you learned in the professional world.
Megan Carney Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Arizona
School of Anthropology
What skills stand out on Instructor resumes?
Megan Carney Ph.D.: For those seeking a teaching position, it is really important to demonstrate previous teaching experience. At this point, it is highly preferred that job applicants have both in-person/classroom teaching experience as well as experience with online teaching, as so many departments are offering both options to students. Applicants should be specific on their resumes and CVs about the courses they taught, course evaluations, and even include some feedback from their former students. If one has taught online, they should list the platforms they're familiar with, such as Canvas and D2L. There is also a strong interest in applicants who have pursued further pedagogical training to augment their sensibilities as instructors that will help to improve accessibility for students. For instance, the Disability Cultural Center at the University of Arizona offers an Ableism 101 workshop and certificate.
What soft skills should all Instructors possess?
Megan Carney Ph.D.: Departments want to hire people who demonstrate a collaborative, team-oriented attitude, especially when it comes to addressing teaching, student advising and mentoring, and committee work within programs. There is also a strong desire to diversify the field and to reverse the trend of shrinking anthropology programs. Applicants should elaborate on their own commitments to strengthening diversity within anthropology and eliminating institutional and other barriers that have perpetuated exclusion.