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What is a physics instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a physics instructor. For example, did you know that they make an average of $28.38 an hour? That's $59,031 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 12% and produce 159,400 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScorePhysics InstructorUS Average
Salary
4.6

Avg. Salary $59,031

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.7

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 11.48%

Black or African American 7.08%

Hispanic or Latino 10.09%

Unknown 4.92%

White 66.16%

Gender

female 29.06%

male 70.94%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
4.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Physics instructor career paths

Key steps to become a physics instructor

  1. Explore physics instructor education requirements

    Most common physics instructor degrees

    Bachelor's

    62.4 %

    Master's

    22.7 %

    Doctorate

    6.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific physics instructor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    MCAT20.11%
    Mathematics11.56%
    Syllabus9.63%
    Lab Experiments7.16%
    Chemistry6.55%
  3. Research physics instructor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage courses via online Moodle2 platform, including recording lectures and uploading PowerPoint notes.
    • Develop lesson plans and teaching strategies for math classes to improve student performance.
    • Develop and teach 1st and 2nd semester calculus and non-calculus base general physics and the associated lab courses.
    • Develop and modify FORTRAN codes for many complex calculations.
  4. Prepare your physics instructor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your physics instructor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a physics instructor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable physics instructor resume templates

    Build a professional physics instructor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your physics instructor resume.
    Physics Instructor Resume
    Physics Instructor Resume
    Physics Instructor Resume
    Physics Instructor Resume
    Physics Instructor Resume
    Physics Instructor Resume
    Physics Instructor Resume
    Physics Instructor Resume
    Physics Instructor Resume
  5. Apply for physics instructor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a physics instructor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first physics instructor job

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Average physics instructor salary

The average physics instructor salary in the United States is $59,031 per year or $28 per hour. Physics instructor salaries range between $40,000 and $85,000 per year.

Average physics instructor salary
$59,031 Yearly
$28.38 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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