Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
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.
- Median pay
- $103,170
- Doing it now
- 12,000
- By 2035
- Up 2.4%
- Usually needs
- Doctoral or professional degree
a year
across the country
800 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as structural geology, micrometeorology, and atmospheric thermodynamics.
- Supervise laboratory work and field work.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesSee 465 colleges that teach it
- Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologySee 83 colleges that teach it
- Earth Systems ScienceSee 5 colleges that teach it
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasSee 985 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Helping and teaching
Analytical and curious
Hands-on and practical
Careers like this one
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$84,620
- Physics Teachers, Postsecondary$100,310
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary$101,420
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$93,250
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$94,980
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$63,820
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $103,170 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.