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Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Master's degreeLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. 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.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower 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 $96,980 Median per year Most earn $49,460–$170,200

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Participate in campus and community events.
  • Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  • Maintain computer equipment used in instruction.
  • Act as advisers to student organizations.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 3,200 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 schools77.6%
  • Junior colleges21.1%

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 is not usually an entry-level job. Most people need a master's degree and about 2 to 4 years of related work experience first, so the path often takes 8 years or more after high school.

  1. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

    4 years

    You learn programming, algorithms, and how computer systems work, which gives you the foundation for both advanced study and industry work.

  2. Software Developer

    2-4 years

    Working on real software teaches you the practical skills and experience that employers and graduate programs value, and it helps you decide which computer science topic you want to teach.

  3. Master's degree in Computer Science

    2 years

    A master's is the typical education for teaching at the college level, and it often lets you specialize in an area such as computer systems or operations research.

  4. Computer Science Teacher, Postsecondary

    Ongoing

    You teach computer science courses at a college or university, and some teachers also do research alongside their teaching.

Where it can lead

  1. Associate Professor of Computer Science

    5-7 years of experience first

    After building a record of strong teaching, research, and service, you can earn a promotion and usually a more permanent position, often with more say over courses and research.

  2. Department Chair, Computer Science

    8-10 years of experience first

    As chair, you manage the department's budget, staff, and course schedule, and you need leadership and administrative experience on top of your teaching.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take computer science and math classesCourses like programming, statistics, and calculus build the thinking skills you need for a computer science degree.
  • Learn to code on your ownBuilding small projects, such as a simple game or website, shows you whether you enjoy programming and gives you something to show later.
  • Join a coding or robotics clubClubs let you work on team projects and practice explaining your ideas, which helps when you later teach others.
  • Enter a programming competitionCompetitions like hackathons or coding contests test your problem solving and are good items for future college applications.
  • Tutor or help younger studentsHelping classmates or younger kids with coding or math gives you early experience explaining technical ideas, which is a core part of teaching.

In college

  • Major in Computer ScienceA computer science major covers the core knowledge you need for both graduate school and industry jobs.
  • Get a software internship or part-time tech jobReal work experience is usually expected before you can teach at the college level, and it shows you how software is built in practice.
  • Work as a teaching assistant or tutorGrading, leading labs, or tutoring gives you hands-on teaching practice and a reference for graduate school.
  • Do undergraduate research with a professorResearch experience helps you decide whether a master's or doctorate is right for you and prepares you for graduate applications.
  • Join a computer science or coding student groupLeading a student group builds the communication and organizing skills that teachers and department leaders use every day.

Tips for getting started

  • Get real experience outside the classroom, such as internships or a job writing software, since teaching jobs often ask for prior work experience.
  • Find out early whether you enjoy teaching by tutoring, leading study groups, or helping with a class, because teaching is a big part of this job.
  • Look into which computer science areas interest you most, such as systems, data, or security, since a master's often focuses on one of them.

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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