Life As an Environmental Science Professor

Job Description & Duties Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

A Day in the Life of an Environmental Science Professor

• Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
• Review papers or serve on editorial boards for scientific journals, and review grant proposals for various agencies.
• Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
• Supervise students’ laboratory and field work.
• Participate in campus and community events.

Environmental Science Professor Required Skills

When polled, Environmental Science Professors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

Related Job Titles

• Faculty Member
• Environmental Science Research Center Director
• Conservation Science Teacher
• Environmental Educator
• Department Chair

Job Outlook for Environmental Science Professors

In the United States, there were 6,900 jobs for Environmental Science Professors in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 700 new jobs for Environmental Science Professors by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 600 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Environmental Science Professors are New York, Massachusetts, and Texas.

Watch out if you plan on working in South Carolina, Ohio, or New Hampshire. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Environmental Science Professors

The salary for Environmental Science Professors ranges between about $42,930 and $158,230 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $79,910.

How much do Environmental Science Professors make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$135,840
New Jersey	$103,650
Ohio	$102,570
Minnesota	$100,840
Pennsylvania	$93,850
Washington	$93,820
Iowa	$93,380
Missouri	$91,520
Illinois	$90,820
Utah	$90,680
New York	$90,160
Oregon	$89,180
Massachusetts	$89,000
Texas	$88,330
Florida	$87,020
New Hampshire	$85,380
Nevada	$84,810
Connecticut	$84,560
Maryland	$79,550
West Virginia	$79,080
Wisconsin	$73,220
Oklahoma	$69,770
Colorado	$69,650
North Carolina	$69,130
Maine	$66,830

What Tools do Environmental Science Professors Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Environmental Science Professors:

• Data entry software
• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• ESRI ArcGIS software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Excel
• Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat

Becoming an Environmental Science Professor

What kind of Environmental Science Professor requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Environmental Science Professors?

Similar Careers

Career changers with experience as an Environmental Science Professor sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons