An economics teacher at the postsecondary level instructs students in economic theory, policy, and real-world applications. The work is intellectually demanding and requires advanced study. You'll need a doctoral degree and a passion for helping students think critically about how economies work.
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Economics teachers at colleges and universities design and deliver courses on microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and related topics. You spend time getting information from current research, updating your knowledge as economic conditions and theories evolve, and thinking creatively about how to present complex material. You work with computers to manage coursework and analyze data. You train and teach others through lectures, discussions, and assignments. You identify what students understand and adjust your teaching accordingly. Your work combines deep subject matter expertise with the ability to communicate clearly.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $123,920 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 1,200 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
This path requires extensive preparation. You'll need a doctoral degree in economics or a closely related field. Your studies will emphasize mathematics, economic theory, and research methods. During your doctoral program, you'll often work as a teaching assistant, gaining classroom experience while you study. After earning your degree, you'll apply for faculty positions at colleges and universities. Some positions may require you to demonstrate research productivity alongside teaching ability. The entire preparation typically takes six to eight years beyond your bachelor's degree.
The main route to this career is earning a doctoral degree and then securing a faculty position. If you're considering this path and want to map out the steps, Pathly can map the economic teacher, postsecondary path that fits you with your school counselor or academic advisor to create a plan that fits your timeline and goals.
You do not need a license to work as an economic teacher, postsecondary, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to work that involves teaching, mentoring, and helping others learn. You enjoy intellectual exchange and want to shape how the next generation thinks about complex problems.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).