Postsecondary Economics Teachers
Overview
Economics teachers at colleges and universities help students understand how money, markets, and economies work by teaching courses like microeconomics, macroeconomics, and economic theory. They create lesson plans, grade assignments and exams, advise students on their academic paths, and often conduct research that gets published in academic journals. These professors use modern technology to teach both in-person and online classes, collaborating with other faculty to develop cutting-edge curriculum. Most economics teachers need a master's or doctoral degree in economics and enjoy both teaching and researching economic trends that affect our daily lives.

Did you know?
The market for tenure-track economics professor positions is extremely competitive, with many qualified PhD graduates competing for limited openings at universities across the United States.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$111,547.25 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top Skill
Monitoring
Key Responsibilities
- Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
- Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Act as advisers to student organizations.
Career Considerations
Highly Competitive Academic Job Market
The market for tenure-track economics professor positions is extremely competitive, with many qualified PhD graduates competing for limited openings at universities across the United States.
Research Publication Requirements
Success in this field requires consistent publication in peer-reviewed economics journals, as research output is a primary factor in hiring, tenure, and promotion decisions.
Tenure-Track vs. Adjunct Position Disparity
There is a significant difference in job security, benefits, and career prospects between tenure-track faculty positions and adjunct or visiting lecturer roles in American higher education.