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Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Master's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $78,580 Median per year Most earn $47,590–$143,720

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Direct theatre productions and projects.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 2,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools76.8%
  • Junior colleges22.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This isn't an entry-level job. Most people need a master's degree plus about 2 to 4 years of related work experience first, so the full path usually takes roughly 8 to 10 years after high school. Teaching at a college or university is the goal, and the path is a good fit if you enjoy both communication and teaching.

  1. Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or public relations

    4 years

    You build core skills in writing, speaking, media, and communication theory, which form the base for everything that follows.

  2. Public Relations Coordinator

    2-4 years

    Working in PR, broadcasting, or media gives you real-world experience to bring into the classroom, and this is the work experience employers and schools usually expect.

  3. Master's degree in communication

    2 years

    A graduate program in communication, often with teaching assistant duties, is the usual credential needed to teach at the college level.

  4. Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

    Ongoing

    You teach courses such as organizational communication, public relations, broadcasting, or journalism, and some teachers also do research.

Where it can lead

  1. Instructional Coordinator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You would move from teaching into designing courses and curriculum and supporting other instructors, which usually needs a master's degree and related experience.

  2. Communications Department Chair

    Varies by school of experience first

    A senior faculty member who leads a department, handles budgets and hiring, and guides other teachers, usually after gaining experience and a strong teaching and service record.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English, speech, and debate classesStrong writing and speaking skills are the foundation of every communications course you would later teach.
  • Join the school newspaper, yearbook, or video clubWorking on real media projects shows you how news, PR, and broadcasting actually work.
  • Compete in debate, speech, or forensicsCompetitions teach you to explain ideas clearly to an audience, which is a key part of teaching.
  • Volunteer as a tutor or peer helperHelping classmates or younger students learn gives you early experience explaining things to others.
  • Take a part-time or summer job that involves customer service or public speakingThese jobs build communication skills and show you how people in organizations talk to the public.

In college

  • Major in communications, journalism, or public relationsA focused major gives you the subject knowledge and theory you will teach later.
  • Get a PR, media, or broadcasting internshipReal work experience is usually required before you can teach at the college level, and internships are how you start building it.
  • Work as a teaching assistant or peer tutorHelping professors or classmates teach builds classroom experience and shows schools you can instruct others.
  • Join a communication or media student organizationClubs such as a campus newspaper, radio station, or PR group help you build a portfolio and professional network.
  • Plan ahead for graduate schoolResearch master's programs in communication early, including what experience they ask for, so you can plan your work and study years.

Tips for getting started

  • Get real experience in the field while you study, such as PR, journalism, or broadcasting work, since most schools look for 2 to 4 years of professional experience before a teaching role.
  • Start teaching early. Tutoring, leading workshops, or helping as a teaching assistant builds the classroom skills that college teaching jobs require.
  • Ask professors and working communications professionals about their path. Their advice on which graduate programs and experiences helped them can save you time.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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