JOB REPORT / 25-1054 · 24 TASKS

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary.

Can AI do the work of Physics Teachers, Postsecondaries?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

Drag the dot. There’s no wrong answer; it starts at our estimate.

Starting pointOur estimate

The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Prepare course materials
Write grant proposals to procure external research funding
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records

Your free lesson plan builds the skills that keep you ahead of AI.

A free set of short lessons, about 20 minutes each, at your own pace. No payment, no experience needed.

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Earn a certificate in your job

A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Physics Teachers, Postsecondary work. It covers the 21 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

21 of 24 tasks reviewed

This job has 24 core tasks. We went through 21 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Physics Teachers, Postsecondaries actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
AI DOES
Drafts syllabi, writes problem sets, and formats handouts on request
YOU DO
Tailor every material to your students' actual needs and your course's unique goals
TASK 02
Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
AI DOES
Drafts background sections, formats budgets, suggests aims language, and checks for gaps
YOU DO
Bring your unique research vision and trusted relationships with funding agencies
TASK 03
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
AI DOES
Logs attendance, calculates grades, flags missing work, and formats reports automatically
YOU DO
Review edge cases, apply judgment on exceptions, and sign off on official records
TASK 04
Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
AI DOES
Searches catalogs, compares prices, and drafts supply lists
YOU DO
Decide what truly fits your course goals and get physical items ordered and received
TASK 05SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
AI DOES
Screens applications and schedules initial contacts
YOU DO
Judge fit and make placement decisions
About this analysis
63% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 06SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
AI DOES
Generates questions and auto-grades multiple choice tests
YOU DO
Design fair assessments that measure real learning
About this analysis
61% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 07SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
AI DOES
Scores objective tests and flags common errors
YOU DO
Judge growth, give meaningful feedback
About this analysis
56% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 08SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
AI DOES
Finds sources and formats citations automatically
YOU DO
Choose what students actually need
About this analysis
48% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 09
Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
AI DOES
Drafts emails, summarizes meeting notes, and helps organize schedules or budgets
YOU DO
Build relationships, resolve conflicts, and make judgment calls about people and priorities
TASK 10
Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
AI DOES
Drafts meeting summaries, policy briefs, and background research to prep for committee work
YOU DO
Bring your judgment, relationships, and accountability to every real decision made at the table
TASK 11
Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
AI DOES
Helps draft feedback, track progress, and suggest research resources
YOU DO
Build trust with students and make nuanced judgment calls about their growth
TASK 12SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Participate in campus and community events.
AI DOES
Suggests events and drafts follow-up messages
YOU DO
Show up and build real relationships
About this analysis
40% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 13SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Act as advisers to student organizations.
AI DOES
Generates event plans and meeting agendas
YOU DO
Build real relationships and mentor leaders
About this analysis
38% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 14SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
AI DOES
Generates lesson plans and suggests teaching materials
YOU DO
Shape learning goals and adapt to students
About this analysis
35% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 15SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
AI DOES
Generates lecture outlines and visual aids
YOU DO
Inspire curiosity and respond to questions
About this analysis
20% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 16SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
AI DOES
Analyzes data and creates presentation drafts
YOU DO
Build trust and guide strategic decisions
About this analysis
20% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 17SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
AI DOES
Suggests discussion prompts and tracks participation
YOU DO
Read the room and guide the flow
About this analysis
19% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 18SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
AI DOES
Suggests courses and career paths from data
YOU DO
Listen deeply and guide each person's journey
About this analysis
18% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 19SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
AI DOES
Searches literature and drafts initial analysis
YOU DO
Ask the right questions and interpret meaning
About this analysis
17% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 20SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
AI DOES
Schedules meetings and summarizes key discussion points
YOU DO
Build relationships and navigate disagreements
About this analysis
14% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 21SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
AI DOES
Scans and summarizes new research papers daily
YOU DO
Judge what's worth your attention
About this analysis
4% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

START LEARNING AI

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.

There are 21 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

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AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC code: 25-1054
Tasks reviewed: 21 of 24

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $100,310 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $99,280 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 13,090
Employed in Colorado: 280
Job outlook: +2.5% by 2034 · ~1,300 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.

Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.

Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.

Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.

Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.

Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.

Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.

Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.

Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.

Participate in campus and community events.

Act as advisers to student organizations.

Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.

Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.

Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.

Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.

Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.

Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.

Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.