◆ Physics

What a university professor
really does.

18 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.

18evidenced tasks
35,480in the US (2025)
$96,980median pay / year
8systems it runs on
See the 18 tasks ↓Open in the atlasThe full career map →
This is what one task looks like here
Grade papers and exams
Grade the stack of midterm papers and the online exam submissions for …3 sources agree

The shape of the day

tap a movement to see its tasks

Which one is you, right now?

Pick the moment · no score, no sign-up
Which moment is me right now?
Whichever you pick, the task behind it opens below.

The work, task by task

18 tasks
Hands on the work12
Grade papers and exams+
Grade the stack of midterm papers and the online exam submissions for CS201, record numeric scores and brief constructive comments for each student, flag any suspected plagiarism, and upload finalized grades to the course gradebook by Tuesday noon.
escojdonet3 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Prepare course materials such as syllabi+
Draft the syllabus for Advanced Algorithms for next term, include learning objectives, weekly topics, required readings, assessment schedule with weightings, office hours, and the department policy paragraphs, then export a print-ready syllabus and post it to the course page by Friday.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Liaise with other university colleagues+
Coordinate with Maria in the Mathematics Department and David in the Engineering School to finalize the cross-listed seminar schedule, propose three meeting times, confirm room and AV needs, and circulate the agreed schedule and brief agenda to participating faculty by next Wednesday.
escoonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Perform classroom management+
Circulate the updated syllabus, seating chart, and attendance sheet to enrolled students and the departmental admin, set weekly check-ins for any at-risk students, and log changes so I can enforce the participation policy starting Monday.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Compile course material+
Assemble the semester packet: lecture slides, readings, problem sets, and grading rubric into one downloadable course folder, check all links and copyright permissions, and upload it to the course page before the first lecture.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
SketchBook Pro+
Create three concept sketches for the assignment brief, refine the chosen sketch to a presentable instructional diagram, and export high-resolution images for the syllabus and handout by Wednesday so students understand expectations.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Maintain computer equipment used in instruction.+
Inventory classroom computers and peripherals, run diagnostics on machines used this term, replace any failed drives or headsets, update lab image, and publish a maintenance log before Monday so lectures this week run without interruption.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Act as advisers to student organizations.+
Meet with the Environmental Club executive next Tuesday, review their proposed spring outreach budget and event timeline, advise on university compliance and risk issues, then email a one-page guidance note and action items to Anna and the student treasurer.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Grow the practice4
Work with people1
Watch and assess1

What the work runs on

named inside the evidenced tasks
7 tasksGoogle Docsconvenient for drafting text, collaborative review with colleagues and exporting a print-ready document
4 tasksMicrosoft Exceluseful for compiling scores, calculating totals and exporting a grade file for the course systemOpen its task library →
4 tasksMicrosoft Outlookstandard for sending meeting proposals, tracking responses and sharing calendar invites among faculty
4 tasksMicrosoft PowerPointappropriate for creating structured lecture slides and timed class plans to accompany coding exercises
2 tasksMicrosoft Wordformats the agenda and hire proposals into a single packet for circulationOpen its task library →
1 taskAdobe Photoshoprefine and export high-resolution sketches and diagrams for syllabus and handouts
1 taskLinuxruns hardware diagnostics, image deployment, and system updates for multiple machines
1 taskMicrosoft Officecreates the prompts, case PDFs, and the participation rubric for distribution to students
Browse every evidenced software task →

The same task, four heights

this page is height one
ExecuteDo today's task, with fewer mistakesyou are here → ImproveMake it easy for the next person to acceptin the atlas → DecideWork out the right move when it is unclearin the atlas → BecomeLearn the pattern so it stops coming backin the atlas →

Can AI actually do this job?

the honest answer

It can

where it genuinely helps
  • Explain the theory behind the work
  • Draft, tidy and structure your writing
  • Rehearse a hard conversation before you have it
  • Build a study plan that fits your gaps

It cannot

where it stops, completely
  • Be in the room where a university professor actually works
  • Carry the responsibility when the call is wrong — that weight stays yours
  • Notice what no one wrote down: the hesitation, the thing left unsaid
  • Live with the outcome

What the work pays

two countries, two different measures

United States

this exact occupation · BLS 2025
  • $96,980 a year — the middle: half earn more, half earn less
  • The lowest tenth earn near $49,460; the top tenth near $170,200
  • 35,480 people employed in this occupation

Where the evidence lives

open any of it yourself
O*NETThe US Department of Labor's own record of this job12 of these tasks ESCOThe European skills and occupations register7 of these tasks Job descriptionsReal postings, in the wild4 of these tasks US Bureau of Labor StatisticsPay and employment, by occupation2025 figures

Close to this work

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Questions people actually ask

Between classes you prepare slides in Microsoft PowerPoint, grade exams in Microsoft Excel or Word, and answer student emails in Microsoft Outlook. Evenings often go to writing papers or grant proposals and maintaining lab Linux servers used for instruction.

If you run labs you’ll use Linux to maintain servers and student environments; Adobe Photoshop or SketchBook Pro only if you teach graphics. Keep files backed up and shareable via university systems.

Salaries vary by type of institution, rank (assistant, associate, full), and research funding. Expect public universities and research-intensive private schools to pay more, especially with external grants.

Grant work often happens between classes and during breaks; successful grants fund graduate student stipends and equipment, and they influence promotion and tenure decisions.