What You Need to Know About Geography Professors

Example of a Geography Professor Job Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

List of Geography Professor Job Duties

• Perform spatial analysis and modeling using geographic information system techniques.
• Participate in campus and community events.
• Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
• Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
• Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.

Skills Needed to be a Geography Professor

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

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

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

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

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.

Related Job Titles

• GIS Instructor (Geographic Information Systems Instructor)
• History Professor
• Associate Professor of Geography
• Associate Professor
• Petroleum Geology Faculty Member

Is There Job Demand for Geography Professors?

There were about 5,000 jobs for Geography Professors in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.4% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 400 new jobs for Geography Professors by 2026. There will be an estimated 400 positions for Geography Professor per year.

The states with the most job growth for Geography Professors are New York, Colorado, and Texas.

Watch out if you plan on working in Illinois, Wisconsin, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Geography Professor Salary

Geography Professors Make between $42,480 and $148,550 a year. The median salary is $80,350.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
New Jersey	$109,020
Arizona	$104,400
Ohio	$99,940
Massachusetts	$99,810
Maryland	$98,670
Florida	$98,420
Pennsylvania	$92,050
New York	$90,390
Texas	$88,560
Oregon	$86,550
Nevada	$86,410
Georgia	$86,370
Michigan	$84,300
North Carolina	$84,100
Missouri	$82,790
Illinois	$82,080
Alabama	$78,650
Colorado	$78,570
Minnesota	$76,540
Wisconsin	$75,520
Tennessee	$74,220
Utah	$73,890
Washington	$73,370
Kentucky	$69,190
Oklahoma	$60,830
West Virginia	$51,640

What Tools & Technology do Geography Professors Use?

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

• ESRI ArcGIS software
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Geographic information system GIS software
• The MathWorks MATLAB
• ESRI ArcView 3D Analyst
• Google Docs
• Data entry software
• IBM SPSS Statistics

Becoming a Geography Professor

What kind of Geography Professor requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Geography Professor?

Where Geography Professors Are Employed

You May Also Be Interested In…

Are you already one of the many Geography Professors in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Philosophy and Religion Professors

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons