What is a Geography Professor?
Job Description: Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Life As a Geography Professor
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Perform spatial analysis and modeling using geographic information system techniques.
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Geography Professor Required Skills
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.
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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Types of Geography Professor Jobs
- GIS Professor
- Geography Instructor
- Petroleum Geology Faculty Member
- Lecturer
- Geography Department Chair
Geography Professor Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 5,000 jobs for Geography Professor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 400 new jobs for Geography Professor by 2026. The BLS estimates 400 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Geography Professor are Oregon, Colorado, and Florida. 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 Average Salary
The salary for Geography Professors ranges between about $42,480 and $148,550 a year.

Geography Professors who work in Florida, Arizona, or Pennsylvania, make the highest salaries.
How much do Geography Professors make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $78,650 |
Arizona | $104,400 |
Colorado | $78,570 |
Florida | $98,420 |
Georgia | $86,370 |
Illinois | $82,080 |
Kentucky | $69,190 |
Maryland | $98,670 |
Massachusetts | $99,810 |
Michigan | $84,300 |
Minnesota | $76,540 |
Missouri | $82,790 |
Nevada | $86,410 |
New Jersey | $109,020 |
New York | $90,390 |
North Carolina | $84,100 |
Ohio | $99,940 |
Oklahoma | $60,830 |
Oregon | $86,550 |
Pennsylvania | $92,050 |
Tennessee | $74,220 |
Texas | $88,560 |
Utah | $73,890 |
Washington | $73,370 |
West Virginia | $51,640 |
Wisconsin | $75,520 |
What Tools do Geography Professors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Geography Professors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Microsoft Publisher
- Google Docs
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Calendar and scheduling software
- ESRI ArcView
- Learning management system LMS
- Blackboard Learn
- Course management system software
- Desire2Learn
How to Become a Geography Professor
Are there Geography Professors education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Geography Professor?

Who Employs Geography Professors?

Below are examples of industries where Geography Professors work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Are you already one of the many Geography Professor in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Couleur via public domain (CC0)
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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