Career Explorer Education
Grows with AI
Computer science teachers, postsecondary
Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Changing faster than most: more resilient than 22% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +4.9% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and emotional intelligence.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $96,980
- Job growth to 2035
- +4.9%
- Openings a year
- 3,200
- People doing it (2025)
- 43,900
- Usual route in
- Doctorate or professional degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Advise others on educational or vocational matters
- Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- Teach academic or vocational subjects
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Assess student capabilities, needs, or performance
- Supervise personnel activities
- Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures
What the work looks like
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as programming, data structures, and software design.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Direct research of other teachers or of graduate students working for advanced academic degrees.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- More of these jobs, as demand for STEM occupations and a growing number of degrees conferred in computer science result in additional computer science professors.
- More of these jobs, as labor market demand for STEM occupations and growing numbers of degrees conferred in computer science result in additional computer science professors.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Physics teachers, postsecondaryChanging shape, Index 27, +2.4%
- Engineering teachers, postsecondaryGrows with AI, Index 28, +7.8%
- Biological science teachers, postsecondaryGrows with AI, Index 34, +7.3%
- Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaryChanging shape, Index 26, +2.7%
Also known as: Computer Information Systems Instructor (CIS Instructor), Computer Science Professor, Instructor, Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Computer Science Instructor, Faculty Member.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.