Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
AI Impact Summary
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 34/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 60% of all analyzed occupations. Of 24 analyzed tasks, 4 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Physics Teachers, Postsecondary skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
Machine Learning Specialization
by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Foundations of Teaching for Learning
by Commonwealth Education Trust
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
24 tasks analyzed
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Supervise students' laboratory work.
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.
Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
Maintain and repair laboratory equipment.
Act as advisers to student organizations.
Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
Participate in campus and community events.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media. | 60.6Observed | 51.2% | 15% | |
| Supervise students' laboratory work. | 61.02Observed | 39.4% | 5% | |
| Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics. | 56.33Observed | 37.5% | 10% | |
| Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts. | 59.67Observed | 50.9% | 5% | |
| Write grant proposals to procure external research funding. | 54.25Observed | 48.7% | 5% | |
| Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences. | 66.55Observed | 53.6% | 5% | |
| Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work. | 57.88Observed | 38.2% | 5% | |
| Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues. | 59.7Observed | 38.9% | 4% | |
| Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others. | 57.75Observed | 72.3% | 4% | |
| Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers. | 53.7Observed | 70.7% | 4% | |
| Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 3% | |
| Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction. | 63.28Observed | 52.3% | 4% | |
| Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students. | 55.55Observed | 37.2% | 4% | |
| Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions. | 51.6Observed | 35.6% | 4% | |
| Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues. | 62.48Observed | 40.0% | 3% | |
| Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment. | 46.43Observed | 67.8% | 2% | |
| Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities. | 49.82Observed | 34.9% | 2% | |
| Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues. | 47.85Observed | 34.1% | 3% | |
| Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head. | 46.38Observed | 67.8% | 3% | |
| Maintain and repair laboratory equipment. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Act as advisers to student organizations. | 61.18Observed | 39.5% | 2% | |
| Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments. | 56.95Observed | 72.0% | 2% | |
| Provide professional consulting services to government or industry. | 61.42Observed | 51.6% | 2% | |
| Participate in campus and community events. | 58.5Observed | 38.4% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 30.8%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$97,360
per year
Mean Wage
$105,460
per year
Employment
14K
workers
Wage Range
$54,880 - $169,740
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
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Alternate Career Paths
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Geographers
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Computer and Information Systems Managers
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Physics Teachers, Postsecondary professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change