Psychology teachers at the postsecondary level design courses, deliver lectures, and guide students through the science of human behavior and mental processes. You'll need a doctoral degree and a passion for helping others understand psychology's core concepts and research methods.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Psychology teachers at colleges and universities create curriculum, prepare lectures, and lead classroom discussions on topics ranging from developmental psychology to cognitive science. You interpret research findings for students, update your knowledge as the field evolves, and build strong relationships with learners. Much of your work involves communicating complex ideas clearly, both in person and through written materials. You also use computers to manage coursework, grade assignments, and stay current with recent studies and teaching innovations in psychology.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,340 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 4,000 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
This role requires a doctoral degree in psychology or a related field. Your preparation involves extensive study in psychology, research methods, and education theory. During your doctoral program, you'll develop expertise in specific psychology areas while gaining teaching experience, often as a teaching assistant. You'll also build skills in writing, critical thinking, and active learning that support both your research and classroom instruction. Many programs combine coursework with supervised teaching opportunities before you enter the job market.
Most paths to this career involve earning a master's degree and then a doctorate, which takes significant time and financial investment. Use Pathly can map the psychology teacher, postsecondary path that fits you to map out the timeline and costs that fit your situation, and work with a counselor to plan your next steps.
You do not need a license to work as a psychology teacher, postsecondary, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to work that centers on people and ideas. You enjoy explaining concepts, building relationships with students, and helping others learn and grow intellectually.
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.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
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).