Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Profile
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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What Do Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary span:
- 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 combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- 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. This occupation is expected to grow by +10.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Make?
| 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.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| 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 |
Where Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Earn the Most
Earnings 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 |
Top Industries Employing Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
The largest employers of atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 11,380 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Use
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
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
Aspiring atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary typically earn 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
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: 25-1051.00 (Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary).