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Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Also called: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Humanities Professor, Instructor, Philosophy Instructor, Philosophy Professor

Median pay in Greater Boston
$100,770
Jobs in Greater Boston
690
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+4.5%
70 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Doctoral or professional degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$51,790$64,770$100,770$134,180$179,450

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure94 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 93
  • Language-model AIOE 99
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 91

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure is higher for philosophy and religion teachers, and observed AI use is substantial. AI tools can help with grading, building exams, and preparing course materials. Leading discussions about ethics and ideas, and guiding students' thinking, rely on the teacher in the room, and the job is not expected to disappear because of AI.

Likely to change

  • Grading papers and class assignments
  • Building exams and course materials

Still relies on people

  • Leading discussions on ethics and belief
  • Guiding students through hard questions

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

42 programs near Boston (plus 38 graduate)

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