Physics Teacher: Education Requirements and Career Info

• What high school physics teachers do
• Educational and certification requirements
• Income projections
• Pros and cons of being a high school physics teacher

What high school physics teachers do

Physics teachers instruct students in how to analyze and understand the properties and behavior of matter, motion and energy. They get students started on the road to studying every aspect of the natural world, from minuscule quarks to supermassive stars.

The most common duties of high school physics teachers include:

• Preparing lesson plans
• Teaching lessons on a predictable schedule
• Leading in-class discussions
• Answering relevant questions from students during or after class
• Advising students on how to succeed in class
• Setting up experiments and demonstrations
• Creating a course syllabus that meets or exceeds standards set by the school
• Staying current on important changes and/or discoveries in physics
• Grading papers, labs, quizzes and exams
• Assigning grades to students based on participation, performance in class, assignments and examinations
• Working with parents, school administrators and other teachers to improve educational outcomes

High school physics teachers hold classes on a daily schedule for nine or 10 months out of the year. They may also work with students one-on-one or in smaller groups outside of class time. Physics teachers also set aside time outside of the daily class schedule to prepare for each day’s lesson and to grade student work and tests.

High schools physics teachers usually lead lessons introducing students to:

• Mechanics and fluid mechanics
• Kinematics
• Thermodynamics
• Electricity and magnetism
• Oscillations and waves
• Atomic and nuclear structure and behavior
• Particle physics

High school physics teachers must master these topics to succeed in their profession.

Education and certification requirements

A bachelor’s degree in physics, chemistry or another science qualifies you to teach physics in most U.S. high schools. A bachelor’s degree in physics may give you an edge since many schools prefer a teacher with a degree in the subject. You’ll also need to earn a teaching credential. And if you want to increase your earning potential and expand your job opportunities, consider pursuing a master’s degree in a science or education-related subject. Surveys show that physics teachers with master’s degrees earn higher salaries.

Income projections

According to Glassdoor.com, the average salary for a high school physics teacher is $55,114. Salaries are for the 10-month school year. You would still have the summer months to acquire work somewhere else and make additional money. Some physics teachers even get signing bonuses because of the high demand for the job.

Here are estimates of annual salaries for high school physics teachers:

• BLS: $57,200 (average of all high school teacher salaries)
• PayScale.com: $49,593
• SalaryGenius.com: $43,350
• Salary.com: $57,659
• Glassdoor.com: $55,114

Pros and cons of being a high school physics teacher

As you consider becoming a high school physics teacher, think through the positive and negative aspects of the job.

Pros

• Inspire the curiosity of students
• You may need only a bachelor’s degree
• Help students find direction and focus, which can have an immediate and lifelong impact
• Many jobs come with good benefits
• Potential to earn job security via tenure
• Focus exclusively on teaching and students, rather than research and publication

Cons

• Frustrating when dealing with unmotivated or disruptive students
• Not as prestigious as a professorship
• Lower pay than other jobs that require an advanced degree
• Little opportunity for original research

• What community college physics instructors do
• Educational and certification requirements
• Income projections
• Pros and cons of being a community college physics instructor

What community college physics instructors do

Community college physics instructors work at two-year institutions of higher education. Here are some of the main responsibilities of community college physics instructors:

• Delivering lectures to undergraduates on topics such as fluid mechanics, particle physics and optics
• Creating course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments and handouts
• Overseeing student laboratory work
• Holding regular office hours to answer questions and provide guidance
• Grading students’ exams, quizzes, laboratory work, homework assignments and papers
• Keeping abreast of recent developments in physics by reading current literature, talking with colleagues and participating in professional conferences.

Educational and certification requirements

Community college physics instructors are required to have a master’s degree, usually in physics or a similar field. You may also need a doctorate to get a full-time job at a community college, because it can be very competitive to earn a position.

Income projections

Physics instructors at community colleges may make significantly more money than high school teachers. According to the BLS, the median salary for a physics instructor at a postsecondary school is $93,950. Keep in mind this estimate includes community college instructors and physics professors employed by four-year colleges and universities.

Full-time faculty at community colleges generally command higher salaries than adjunct instructors. Adjunct instructors are paid by the course and don’t always receive benefits. For more about the difference between full-time faculty and adjunct instructors, check out our article on community college instructors.

Here are more annual salary estimates for community college physics instructors:

• Glassdoor.com: $50,710
• SalaryGenius.com: $44,200
• AAUP: $56,483

Pros and cons of being a community college physics instructor

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a community college physics instructor.

Pros

• Teach students who are dynamic, enthusiastic and eager for opportunities
• Rewarding to provide a great education to many first-generation college students, often from immigrant families
• Community college physics instructors are in high demand, improving job opportunities and salary prospects
• Focus on teaching exclusively
• Flexible hours and opportunities to take time off

Cons

• Little opportunity for research or publication
• Lower pay than professors at four-year colleges and universities
• Many teaching positions at community colleges are adjunct, meaning lower pay, few benefits and little job security

• What physics professors do
• Educational and certification requirements
• Income projections
• Pros and cons of being a physics professor

What physics professors do

Physics professors teach college-level courses in physics at universities and other four-year institutions of higher education. Physics professors usually specialize in a sub-discipline such as mechanics, quantum physics, nuclear physics or optics.

In addition to teaching, physics professors conduct cutting-edge research in a specialized area of physics and publish their findings in academic papers and books. Here’s a closer look at a physics professor’s three main responsibilities: research, teaching and faculty support.

Research

Physics professors perform experiments and complete research projects to answer probing questions about the nature of the universe.

A physics professor’s research duties will probably include:

• Selecting and leading a team of research assistants and associates
• Writing articles, books or other original materials based on findings
• Publishing findings in professional journals, books and online databases
• Writing grant proposals for external funding from foundations, governments and businesses
• Staying informed about current physics research developments
• Supervising graduate students’ research projects

Teaching

Though research may absorb a considerable portion of their attention and focus, physics professors usually also teach courses to undergraduates. Teaching duties typically include:

• Setting overall instructional objectives for each course taught
• Creating and maintaining curricula, syllabi, course content and instructional methods
• Lecturing undergraduates on topics such as fluid mechanics, particle physics and optics
• Selecting and leading a team of teaching assistants
• Holding regular office hours to answer questions and provide guidance

Professors lead teams of teaching assistants who will help the professor with many of the tasks integral to teaching. Physics professors use their discretion in deciding how closely to manage their assistants as they carry out the following tasks:

• Creating course materials such as homework assignments and handouts
• Overseeing student laboratory work
• Grading students’ exams, quizzes, laboratory work, homework assignments and papers
• Initiating, leading and moderating classroom discussions
• Selecting and ordering materials and supplies such as textbooks and laboratory equipment

Faculty support

Helping out the larger academic community may include:

• Participating in the faculty evaluation process, including providing input on the admission of new professors
• Mentoring newly hired faculty members
• Serving on advisory boards, hiring committees and ad hoc committees
• Participating in the Faculty Senate
• Taking part in commencement or other ceremonies
• Advising your department on the designation of learning outcomes, administrative measurements and student evaluation standards
• Collaborating with faculty colleagues and administrators in developing program standards, policies and textbook selection

Check out this video of a physics lesson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJVvtOy-ukE

Educational and certification requirements

Gaining a professorship at a university or four-year college can be a monumental task. At minimum, aspiring physics professors will have to complete a doctorate demonstrating a commitment to research and inquiry in the field of physics. Getting a full-time faculty position at a college or university also requires that you publish original research and earn the respect and admiration of your colleagues.

Income projections

Physics professors usually earn significantly more than high school and community college teachers. According to the BLS, the median annual salary for a physics professor is $93,950.

Here are more annual salary estimates for college/university physics instructors:

• Glassdoor.com: $50,710
• AAUP: $56,483
• SalaryGenius.com: $44,200

Pros and cons of being a physics professor

Consider both the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a physics professor at a four-year college or university.

Pros

• Full benefits for health insurance and retirement security
• Higher pay than most other physics education jobs
• Tenure-track position, meaning an opportunity for long-term job security
• Opportunities for research and discovery
• Publish your findings in prestigious journals and books
• Get to teach students with a passion for learning and achievement
• May be able to take on a leadership role at a college or university

Cons

• Probably responsible for joining a committee and attending many extra meetings and professional events
• Can be frustrating to work within bureaucratic institutions like universities
• Academia can be highly competitive and exhausting, with a “publish-or-perish” norm
• Many years of advanced education are required