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What is a teaching instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Quoted experts
Rodney Foster,
Kathy Caruso
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a teaching instructor. For example, did you know that they make an average of $29.48 an hour? That's $61,323 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 2% and produce 5,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a teaching instructor?

Rodney FosterRodney Foster LinkedIn profile

Instructor - Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor - Airframe & Powerplant Technology, Orange Coast College

Orange Coast College (OCC) teaches Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) and Avionics. Although the Government has dampened air travel by putting up restrictions to prevent a Covid-19 spread, there is still a certified mechanic/skilled labor shortage. I believe all our students will have permanent jobs within a six-month search. OCC AMT is listed as an essential workforce by the state of California and is back in classes full-time, Face-to-face labs, and online lectures. Our next semester registration maximum filled in two days and still has over 35 additional students per class on the waiting list.
ScoreTeaching InstructorUS Average
Salary
4.8

Avg. Salary $61,323

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
3.7

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.11%

Asian 10.92%

Black or African American 11.19%

Hispanic or Latino 17.86%

Unknown 4.55%

White 54.37%

Gender

female 52.09%

male 47.91%

Age - 45
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 - 45
Stress level
3.7

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.0

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Teaching instructor career paths

Key steps to become a teaching instructor

  1. Explore teaching instructor education requirements

    Most common teaching instructor degrees

    Bachelor's

    58.9 %

    Master's

    24.3 %

    Associate

    7.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific teaching instructor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Mathematics19.84%
    Political Science13.24%
    Lab Reports9.48%
    Course Curriculum8.05%
    Fine Arts6.41%
  3. Research teaching instructor duties and responsibilities

    • Utilize digital technology for educational purposes by managing blackboard page.
    • Assist with creation of course syllabus and require course work.
    • Cover the fundamental concepts of chemistry and biology including cell biology, metabolism, microbiology, genetics, evolution and histology.
    • Provide clinical experience in various healthcare settings.
  4. Prepare your teaching instructor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your teaching 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 teaching 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 teaching instructor resume templates

    Build a professional teaching 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 teaching instructor resume.
    Teaching Instructor Resume
    Teaching Instructor Resume
    Teaching Instructor Resume
    Teaching Instructor Resume
    Teaching Instructor Resume
    Teaching Instructor Resume
    Teaching Instructor Resume
    Teaching Instructor Resume
    Teaching Instructor Resume
  5. Apply for teaching instructor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a teaching 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 teaching instructor job

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Are you a teaching instructor?

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Average teaching instructor salary

The average teaching instructor salary in the United States is $61,323 per year or $29 per hour. Teaching instructor salaries range between $39,000 and $96,000 per year.

Average teaching instructor salary
$61,323 Yearly
$29.48 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do teaching instructors rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Teaching instructor reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

The transfer of knowledge and the joy on the student's face when they understand

Cons

The low pay which is often offered


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Cons

salary and the requirements


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Cons

Nothing really


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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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