How to hire physics teachers, postsecondary
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others. • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers. • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions. • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students. • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records. • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics. • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts. • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Doctoral or professional degree] • Strong reading comprehension, science, speaking, active learning, active listening and critical thinking skills • Working knowledge of mathematics, physics, education and training and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $100,310 a year. [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for physics teachers, postsecondary
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Tell me about a time you used scientific or technical knowledge to solve a work problem.
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What physics teachers, postsecondary do
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for physics teachers, postsecondary
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +2.4% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 1,100 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay physics teachers, postsecondary
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $139,420 |
| Massachusetts | $111,280 |
| Virginia | $104,490 |
| New York | $103,100 |
| New Jersey | $98,920 |
See physics teachers, postsecondary pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Physicists
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
- Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.