Career Profiles:
Professor, Researcher, Teacher: Physics Jobs in Academia
High School Teaching Positions
Many physics teachers in high schools in the United States have bachelor degrees in chemistry or a science other than physics. This means there is a need for high school teachers with undergraduate degrees in physics. While there is a considerable amount of job security at private high schools, public high schools in most states have tenure laws that protect teachers from being terminated without just cause. Depending on experience and responsibilities, the salaries of high school teachers can even exceed the salaries of college instructors.
Community College & Postsecondary Jobs
Junior colleges or two-year post-secondary schools need physics teachers but will generally require a master’s degree or a doctorate in physics. Not to be forgotten are specialized technical or trade schools. The growing video game industry, for example, needs game designers and a game designer needs to know mechanics, which is a branch of physics.
Professor of Physics – Research & Teaching Careers
The competition for teaching positions at four-year colleges is high and a doctorate in physics is necessary. At universities with graduate schools, assistant professors are expected to do research and publish. This is an entry-level position and is the first step to becoming an associate professor or professor.
Tenure is well-earned at a major university and typically requires publications in peer-reviewed journals. There are also openings for lecturers and instructors who have only teaching responsibilities. Lectureships are not usually considered tenure-track positions.
Whether you are seeking a career as a high school physics teacher, a researcher at a major university, a college professor or as a physics lecturer, AAPM Career Services is the premier job search website for physics jobs on the internet.
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