Both high school teachers and college professors are vital in society! Both educators play crucial roles in children’s development, adult education, and workforce development – and considering the fact that educated citizens are our greatest resource, theirs is, indeed, a noble profession.
Then, there are also the numerous benefits that come with being an educator. Teachers are always in high demand, thanks to a growing population, social need and economic growth. According to experts, the demand for teachers will be greater than its supply by more than 100,000 by 2025, meaning more job opportunities for aspiring teachers.
The median yearly wage for workers in the Education, Training and Library occupations is $57,490 (May 2022); the median wage for all occupations is $46,310 per year. Note that educators can also receive generous compensation benefits, too, including health insurance, retirement packages, and opportunities for continuing education and career advancement.
A Quick Look at Their Differences
If you’re planning on pursuing a Master’s in Education program to become a successful educator, you have likely asked yourself, “Which of these career paths is the best for me?” Let’s take a more detailed look into the educational requirements, professional demands and career advancement opportunities for secondary and post-secondary teaching.
| College Professor | High School Teacher | |
| Average Annual Salary | $80,840 | $62,360 |
| Projected Job Growth | 8% (2022-2032) or 118,800 openings per year | 1% (2022-2032) or 67,100 openings per year |
| Licenses/Certifications Required | Yes, when teaching occupations where licensure, registration or certification is required. | Yes |
| Primary Duties | * College professors provide students with instruction on specific courses based on their specialization. * Conducting research projects, publishing scholarly papers and books. * Participating in professional activities, such as conferences and workshops. | * High school teachers teach Science, Math, Technology, English, Literature, History and more. * The lessons cover practical knowledge and skills that prepare high school students for college and the job market. |
What Does a College Professor Do?
College professors are productive professionals whose industry-specific technical knowledge and transferable skills allow them to perform a wide range of roles and responsibilities. Their daily working life can include the following duties:
- Develop the course syllabus for every course assigned to them based on academic standards set by the college or university.
- Plan the lessons and assignments, including their content, structure and criteria for grading.
- Teach the course subjects based on the course syllabus.
- Evaluate the academic performance and progress of their students through exams, quizzes and assignments, as well as papers and other forms of academic work.
- Provide academic advising services for students.
- Work with their peers and supervisors in curriculum development and other academic matters.
- Participate in academic and administrative bodies, if necessary.
- Be updated about the industry, including its trends, innovations and technology.
- Attend professional development activities, such as workshops, seminars and conferences.
Many college professors also perform experiments, lead research projects, publish their original research, and even supervise graduate assistants in the classroom and the laboratory. Note that their specific roles and responsibilities will also vary depending on their positions (i.e., research or teaching professors, tenured or adjunct professors, visiting professors, clinical professors) and the size of the college.
College professors can teach small and large classes, too, depending on their courses and specialization. With online learning becoming a common aspect of higher education, their learning formats can include live instruction, hybrid instruction, and online instruction.
Aside from the opportunity for specialization in a specific subject, college professors usually have greater autonomy and independence in designing their course syllabi, choosing their teaching pedagogy, and selecting their research projects and their methodology.
Their interactions are with adults, too, since college students are usually of legal age, not to mention that adult learners and working professionals can also be their students. Your opportunities for intellectually challenging collaborations and discussions with your students are aplenty!
Due to these specific attributes of teaching in higher education settings, college professors must possess strong critical thinking, collaboration, interpersonal skills, resourcefulness, and resilience. Being a college professor is a rewarding job but it has its fair share of challenges, thus, the need for being resilient.
College Professor Education and Career Paths
The type of educational and professional credentials you must possess to become a college professor vary depending on the colleges you’re applying to, the courses you want to teach, and the research topics you want to take on.
Community colleges may accept as college professors those with a Master’s degree in Higher Education with extensive and relevant professional work experience. If you’re a graduate student now, you should plan on earning a Doctorate in Higher Education degree in your field after racking up relevant professional work experience.
You can pursue a doctoral degree while maintaining part-time or full-time employment, too. Your graduate experience should ideally include a graduate teaching assistantship, too, since it will boost your resume’s value.
College professors usually have the relevant professional license, registration, or certification of their profession, such as Professional Engineer (PE), registered nurse (RN), or physician (MD), which demonstrates their competence, if not expertise, in their field.
If their profession doesn’t require a professional license, registration or certification, college professors can also earn other forms of professional credentials. These include memberships or fellowships from professional organizations, specialized training, and intellectual property rights like patents, as well as an impressive collection of published research and papers.
With the right educational and professional credentials, college professors can progress from being adjunct professors to tenured professors and even become part of the college administration. Becoming a college dean or a university president isn’t far-fetched with ambition!
A career in Higher Education Teaching is for you if:
- You have a strong passion for teaching, lifelong learning, and research.
- You possess good communication skills, as well as collaboration and critical thinking skills.
- You like to interact with people and make a positive impact on their lives.
A career in Higher Education Teaching is not a great fit if you:
- You’re teaching for the money.
- You are averse to risk, change and criticism.
- You prefer being alone.
What Does a High School Teacher Do?
If you’re pursuing a graduate degree as part of your plans to become a high school teacher, you must be aware of the rewards and challenges that come with the job! The typical roles and responsibilities of secondary school teachers include the following:
- Create lesson plans based on academic standards set by the school district and other authorities.
- Evaluate the students’ abilities as well as their strengths and weaknesses that can be used in personalized tutoring or mentoring services.
- Adapt the lessons based on the student’s abilities, progress and class size.
- Grade the student’s academic performance based on their class participation, assignments, and exams.
- Work with students toward the improvement of their academic performance, even provide counseling, if necessary.
- Prepare students to pass the state-administered standardized tests, as well as college entrance exams and other measures of academic performance.
- Develop and implement the classroom rules, as well as implement the school’s administrative policies.
- Discuss with parents and guardians their students’ progress and issues.
- Supervise students during extracurricular activities, detention, lunchtime and breaks, and field trips.
High school teachers usually choose a specific area to teach, such as history, physics, or mathematics, as well as teach different classes in a specific area (e.g., math subjects like calculus and algebra). Their students are usually in the 7th through 12th grade and can teach different grades at different hours of the day.
Unlike college professors, high school teachers usually follow a structured curriculum required by the state and school district. Their professional performance can also be evaluated based on specific standards that college professors aren’t subjected to.
But like their college counterparts, high school teachers must possess strong communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills. With teenagers as their students, secondary school teachers must also possess patience, persistence and resilience, particularly when teaching troubled and troublesome teens. Indeed, work burnout among public secondary school teachers due to their workload and student-related issues is a national concern.
Despite the challenges, high school teachers assert that the rewards of their profession more than make up for the risks! Their significant impact on the youth and their lives, as well as their opportunities for personal and professional development, are among the oft-cited reasons for their commitment.
High School Teacher Education and Career Paths
High school teachers usually possess a bachelor’s degree in education or in the specific field in which they specialize. Note, however, that a bachelor’s degree in Education is highly recommended because of the comprehensive coverage of contemporary education theories, principles, and practices. You should also choose a concentration in a specific content area, such as English, math or science.
If you’re planning on becoming a public school teacher, you should also secure a state-issued license or certification. If you’re more interested in private schools, you don’t have to obtain a state-issued license or certification, but it can be a competitive advantage when applying for jobs in the best schools.
Every state has licensing or certification requirements, but the common ones are:
- Bachelor’s degree with a satisfactory GPA
- Completion of student-teaching requirements
- Background check/criminal check
- Passing scores on licensure or certification exam
Most states require continuing education credits for licensed or certified teachers to maintain their professional credentials. You may also be required to earn a Master’s in Secondary Education after obtaining your license and getting relevant teaching experience, but it will vary depending on your state and school.
What if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in Education but want to become a high school teacher? You can explore alternative routes like:
- Alternative certification programs where students engage in education-related coursework and complete a supervised student-teaching experience. Examples include the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) and the State of Texas’ Alternative Certification Program (ACP).
- Participate in Teach for America or Troops to Teachers to earn your teaching certification.
- Earn a master’s degree in education for non-teaching professionals, such as the programs offered at the University of San Diego and Western Governors University.
Career advancement for high school teachers includes:
- Lead teacher
- School librarians
- School counselors
- Assistant principals and principals
- Instructional coordinators
A career in Secondary Education Teaching is for you if:
- You have a strong passion for teaching, learning and sharing knowledge.
- You possess the soft skills of high school teachers, such as patience, persistence and empathy.
- You are creative and possess integrity.
A career in Secondary Education Teaching is not a great fit if you:
- You find it difficult to deal with troublesome people, including teenagers, as well as criticism and stressful environments.
- You don’t like change, risk and impulsive behavior.
- You’re uncomfortable with public speaking and gatherings.
Becoming a college professor or high school teacher requires hard work, as well as a strong desire to inspire others while also learning from them. Regardless of your choice, you will agree education is a challenging yet rewarding work!
Additional Resources:
