Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Adjunct Professor, African Studies Professor, American Studies Professor, Asian Studies Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Black Studies Professor, College Faculty Member
Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs.
What area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary do
Typical tasks
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula, and on career issues.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary
The median annual wage for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary is $85,020 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $52,070 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $160,420. The mean annual wage is $98,330.
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $85,020 → in 3 years $92,500 → in 5 years $97,800 → in 10 years $112,600 (10-year range $96,800–$130,700). The model assumes pay growth of +2.8% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.