Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers
O*NET title: Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in childcare, family relations, finance, nutrition, and related subjects pertaining to home management. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Chef Instructor, Child Development Instructor
Median pay
$75,870
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$47,830 – $130,790
People employed
2,770
Holland code
SIA
Social · Investigative · Artistic
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.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 2.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 3.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 4.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 5.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (21 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers salary in every state →
What family and consumer sciences teachers do
- 01Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, projects, assignments, and papers.
- 02Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- 03Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as food science, nutrition, and child care.
- 04Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- 05Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- 06Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Knowledge
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Achievement 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: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
- A certification can help.
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 family and consumer sciences teachers
- Instructional Coordinators89% · +2%
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School87% · −14%
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education86% · −5%
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School85% · −2%
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School82% · −13%
Change into family and consumer sciences teachers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School82% · $65,030
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School82% · $66,270
- Instructional Coordinators82% · $77,440
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors79% · $64,330
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers79% · $60,280
Majors that lead here
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
- Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other
- Family Resource Management Studies, General
- Consumer Economics
- Consumer Services and Advocacy
- Family and Consumer Economics and Related Services, Other
- Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General
- Human Nutrition
- Foodservice Systems Administration/Management
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.