Economics Teachers
O*NET title: Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Accounting Lecturer, Adjunct Economics Instructor, Adjunct Economics Professor, Adjunct Professor, Agricultural Economics Professor, Agricultural Economics Teacher
Median pay
$123,920
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$64,060 – $224,200
People employed
11,560
Holland code
SIC
Social · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 2.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 3.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 4.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 5.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 6.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 7.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
Economics Teachers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (41 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What economics teachers do
- 01Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics.
- 02Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- 03Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- 04Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- 05Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- 06Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
Knowledge
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from economics teachers
- Economists87% · +1%
- Political Scientists76% · +15%
- Environmental Economists75% · group pay
- Sociologists75% · −14%
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists72% · +57%
Change into economics teachers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Economists87% · $124,720
- Sociologists82% · $106,030
- Environmental Economists81% · $124,720
- Political Scientists81% · $142,080
- Epidemiologists71% · $87,220
Majors that lead here
- Agricultural Economics
- Environmental/Natural Resource Economics
- Economics and Computer Science
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
- Mathematical Economics
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- Economics, General
- Applied Economics
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- Development Economics and International Development
- International Economics
- Economics, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.