Chicago Higher Education Jobs Overview
Higher education (Higher-ed) professionals are the professors, administrators, and researchers who interact with postsecondary students who are looking to make their mark in the world. Higher-ed jobs are often found in colleges, universities, career schools, or technical/trade schools; duties may include planning lessons, providing support, and instructing students with the best learning materials available. These jobs are available to competent, personable, and well-organized job seekers who have completed a post-bachelor's degree.
When you become a postsecondary professor, administrator, or researcher, you help shape the next generation of professionals. You may be a history, science, or business professor or the head of a specialized department. As an administrator, you may help prospective students apply for college and ensure that they have the credentials they need to get admitted.
Working as a higher-ed professional offers a decent salary and plenty of employment opportunities. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9% increase in new postsecondary teaching jobs within the next 10 years.
You can expand your search for higher ed jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Chicago, Illinois
If you're going to Chicago to experience "da Bears," deep-dish pizza, and windy streets, native Chicagoans say "fogetta 'bout it!" While these have made Chicago famous, you'll find many locals eating thin-crust, tavern-style pie. Plus, the city isn't on any list of the windiest cities in the U.S.—a local newspaper named it "The Windy City" after the Chicago elite's propensity toward boastfulness and self-promotion. And while the Chicago jobs list (hit jobs, that is) includes notorious mobsters from Chicago like Al Capone, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson, linguists are noticing that the "Chicago accent" is disappearing.
However, there's a reason Condé Nast Traveler has named Chicago the "best big city in the U.S." Chicago is home to top universities, including Northwestern University, Wheaton College, and Valparaiso. And if you're looking for Chicago jobs, you can relocate to any one of the city's unique neighborhoods, such as North Center with its cozy Irish pubs and breweries or Uptown, the lively entertainment district. For those who want to live further out from the city, you can also find jobs in popular suburbs including Cicero, Oak Park, and Evanston.
Update Your Chicago Higher Education Resume
Colleges and postsecondary schools want to hire the best possible candidates they can find. Before you apply, be sure to update your resume and make your skills, experience, and credentials stand out. Monster offers a comprehensive list of tips on how to write the best higher-ed resume. You'll also need a well-written cover letter that briefly describes your professional background and reasons for applying. We offer cover letter writing tips and samples to help you write yours.
How Much Do Higher Education Jobs Pay in Chicago, Illinois?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in higher education jobs in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median college professor/ instructor pay in Chicago is $60,984 per year, which is 8% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Chicago Higher Education Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in higher education? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those higher education jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Chicago, how to nail your job interview, and more.