How to become a family and consumer sciences teacher, 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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect most of these occupations require graduate school. for example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a ph.d., m.d., or j.d. (law degree)..Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

What family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary do

• Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, projects, assignments, and papers.
• Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as food science, nutrition, and child care.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
• Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
• Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

Skills that matter most

• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Learning Strategies
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Monitoring

Is family and consumer sciences teacher, postsecondary a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 49% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• California $97,620
• Michigan $83,500
• Ohio $83,400
• Oklahoma $83,200
• Illinois $80,220

Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.