Geography Teachers, Postsecondary: Job Description
Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Do Geography Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of geography teachers, postsecondary span:
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as urbanization, environmental systems, and cultural geography.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
What Geography Teachers, Postsecondary Need to Know
Successful geography teachers, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Geography Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Cartography Professor
- Cartography Teacher
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Cultural Geography Faculty Member
- Geographic Information Systems Faculty Member (GIS Faculty Member)
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 435,927 geography teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -3.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $47,034 |
| Hourly median | $22.61 |
| 10th percentile | $32,503 |
| 25th percentile | $39,769 |
| 75th percentile | $54,300 |
| 90th percentile | $61,566 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Geography Teachers, Postsecondary Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $162,050 |
| Oregon | $124,060 |
| Vermont | $103,950 |
| Maryland | $100,110 |
| South Carolina | $99,030 |
| Massachusetts | $98,220 |
| New York | $97,960 |
| Texas | $95,780 |
| Minnesota | $94,120 |
| Illinois | $87,410 |
| Connecticut | $86,830 |
| Ohio | $85,720 |
| New Mexico | $85,460 |
| Virginia | $85,400 |
| Iowa | $85,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,350 |
| Mississippi | $83,570 |
| Wisconsin | $82,720 |
| Utah | $81,940 |
| Washington | $81,910 |
| Kentucky | $81,690 |
| Indiana | $81,600 |
| Missouri | $81,370 |
| North Carolina | $81,210 |
| Oklahoma | $80,910 |
| Georgia | $80,200 |
| New Jersey | $78,220 |
| Colorado | $77,430 |
| Arizona | $77,200 |
| Michigan | $77,180 |
| Tennessee | $76,450 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for geography teachers, postsecondary vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $137,657 | 18.0% | 1.28 |
| New England | $96,602 | 4.6% | 2.59 |
| Middle Atlantic | $91,495 | 18.0% | 1.26 |
| Southwest | $90,195 | 13.1% | 1.05 |
| Plains States | $89,510 | 5.6% | 1.26 |
| Great Lakes | $83,368 | 16.4% | 1.06 |
| Southeast | $82,271 | 17.7% | 1.28 |
| Rocky Mountains | $79,008 | 6.6% | 2.04 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $178,550 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $169,670 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $164,660 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $140,140 | 100 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $120,220 | 90 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $103,780 | 50 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $98,880 | 90 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $97,760 | 70 |
Which Industries Hire Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
The bulk of geography teachers, postsecondary are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 3,290 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (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)
- Internet browser software: Mozilla Firefox (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: Geographic information system GIS systems (in demand)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for geography teachers, postsecondary is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Education and Training
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Geographers (Primary-Short)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Aspiring geography teachers, postsecondary typically earn programs in:
Social Sciences
4 programs across 2 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
1 programs across 1 majors
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced 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: 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary).
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