Hiring guide · Education & Childcare
How to Hire a Health Sciences Professor
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring health sciences professors, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $107,310), recruit through college education programs and student-teaching placements, verify Professional license where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for health sciences professors
There are about 278,400 health sciences professors employed in the U.S., with roughly 24,900 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +17.9% from 2025–35 (much faster than average). Expect competition for qualified candidates: speed and a strong offer matter.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $59,270–$75,690 | $28.50–$36.39 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $107,310 | $51.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $210,370 | $101.14 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $322,020 | $154.82 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Doctoral or professional degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Clinical expertise
- Mentoring
Nice-to-haves
- Professional license
- Board certification
- Health professions education certificate
- Experience with simulation mannequins
Where to find health sciences professors
- College education programs and student-teaching placements
- Alternative certification and residency programs
- Substitute and paraprofessional pools
- Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Health Specialties Professor, Medical School Faculty, Public Health Professor, Allied Health Professor
Screening checklist
- State license or certification verification where required
- Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
- CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
- A sample lesson or classroom observation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Describe your teaching philosophy.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
2. “How do you precept?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
3. “Describe your clinical background.”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
4. “How do you use simulation?”
What a strong answer includes: Give examples.
5. “Describe your research.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Run a Clinical Simulation (see the steps)
- Precept a Student in Clinic (see the steps)
- Write Case-Based Exam Questions (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Preceptor, Clinical rotation, Simulation lab
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Health Sciences Professor 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Health Sciences Professor training. Show them the path forward: Clinical Instructor → Assistant Professor → Associate Professor → Program Director or Dean.
Hiring health sciences professors: FAQ
How much should I pay a health sciences professor?
The U.S. median wage for health sciences professors is $107,310 per year, according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($75,690), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($210,370). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a health sciences professor have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Professional license and Board certification where relevant, plus skills such as clinical expertise, curriculum design, and simulation teaching.
How long does it take to train a new health sciences professor?
Becoming qualified typically takes 8+ years. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”