Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
- Median pay
- $78,620
- Doing it now
- 116,900
- By 2035
- Up 2.2%
- Usually needs
- Master's degree
a year
across the country
8,000 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
- Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
- Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as acting techniques, fundamentals of music, and art history.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- MusicSee 1,080 colleges that teach it
- Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftSee 880 colleges that teach it
- Fine and Studio ArtsSee 1,083 colleges that teach it
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasSee 985 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Helping and teaching
Creative and expressive
Analytical and curious
Careers like this one
- Art Therapists$77,930
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool$64,830
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $78,620 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.