Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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The Daily Work of Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
The core tasks performed by atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary cover:
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as structural geology, micrometeorology, and atmospheric thermodynamics.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Supervise laboratory work and field work.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
What Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Need to Know
Effective atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Astronomy Professor
- Atmospheric Sciences Professor
- Climatology Professor
- Climatology Teacher
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 557,381 atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +10.3% over the projection horizon.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $72,801 |
| Hourly median | $35.00 |
| 10th percentile | $46,943 |
| 25th percentile | $59,872 |
| 75th percentile | $85,730 |
| 90th percentile | $98,659 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $129,000 |
| Maryland | $121,420 |
| Georgia | $114,290 |
| Kansas | $113,830 |
| Arizona | $113,790 |
| Alaska | $113,530 |
| Montana | $110,200 |
| Virginia | $108,260 |
| Oregon | $107,840 |
| Connecticut | $105,640 |
| North Dakota | $105,610 |
| Texas | $105,130 |
| Wisconsin | $103,030 |
| New Mexico | $102,670 |
| Missouri | $102,370 |
| Massachusetts | $102,340 |
| New Jersey | $102,300 |
| North Carolina | $101,960 |
| New York | $101,480 |
| Nevada | $101,450 |
| Michigan | $100,550 |
| Minnesota | $99,040 |
| Idaho | $98,850 |
| Washington | $97,910 |
| Wyoming | $96,470 |
| Ohio | $96,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,950 |
| Kentucky | $92,270 |
| Maine | $89,780 |
| Indiana | $82,480 |
| West Virginia | $80,420 |
| Colorado | $80,010 |
| Tennessee | $79,800 |
| Alabama | $79,540 |
| Illinois | $78,860 |
| Utah | $77,900 |
| Iowa | $77,680 |
| South Carolina | $77,110 |
| Arkansas | $72,090 |
| Mississippi | $64,850 |
| South Dakota | $61,540 |
| Florida | $56,290 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $123,192 | 19.8% | 1.24 |
| Southwest | $107,521 | 10.6% | 0.96 |
| New England | $101,592 | 7.7% | 2.04 |
| Middle Atlantic | $101,428 | 26.4% | 2.32 |
| Plains States | $95,365 | 3.9% | 0.93 |
| Great Lakes | $92,016 | 7.0% | 0.53 |
| Rocky Mountains | $84,034 | 6.4% | 1.61 |
| Southeast | $78,611 | 18.2% | 0.96 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | CT | $217,960 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $162,980 | 670 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | TX | $156,860 | 110 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $136,050 | 110 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $135,450 | 50 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | CO | $134,560 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $130,960 | 1,270 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $130,810 | 240 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 11,380 | n/a |
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Getting Started in This Career
Most atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Natural Sciences Managers (Supplemental)
- Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Students preparing for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary often complete programs in:
Physical Sciences
18 programs across 4 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
4 programs across 4 majors
- Climate Science
- Environmental Geosciences
- Earth Systems Science
- Mathematics and Atmospheric/Oceanic Science
Education
2 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-1051.00 (Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary).