Compensation
Median Pay
$103,170
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$103,170
Projected Growth
2.6%
Annual Openings
1,000
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
14,000
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
2.6%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
1,000
Estimated openings created each year.
Pathway
Preparation
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
STEP 1
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
STEP 2
Experience
None
STEP 3
Training
None
Top Skills for Success
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Science
99 / 100
99%
Speaking & listening
98 / 100
98%
Mathematics
95 / 100
95%
Writing & reading
88 / 100
88%
Critical & analytical thinking
87 / 100
87%
Computers & information technology
84 / 100
84%
Creativity & innovation
81 / 100
81%
Leadership
78 / 100
78%
Adaptability
72 / 100
72%
Problem solving & decision making
65 / 100
65%
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Location Intelligence
Best Places for This Career
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
PRO
Best Metro Areas
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
- Top-paying cities
- Fast-growing markets
- Local opportunity rankings
CAREERGPS INSIGHTS
Career Analysis for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary, focus on teaching and related academic work across several scientific disciplines. Nationally, this occupation reports a median annual salary of $101,390, with about 14,000 people employed. Employment is projected to grow by 2.6%, and there are an estimated 1,000 annual openings, suggesting a steady flow of opportunities from new positions and turnover. The role relies on a blend of science, mathematics, and strong communication skills, supported by critical and analytical thinking, problem solving, and the use of computers and information technology. Creativity, innovation, leadership, and adaptability also play an important part in this profession. Individuals considering this path typically pursue a doctoral or professional degree, preparing them for teaching at the postsecondary level. This career can appeal to those who want to combine advanced scientific knowledge with teaching in higher education settings and are ready to invest in extensive education and skill development.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
This occupation offers a national median annual salary of $101,390, indicating strong earning potential for postsecondary teachers in these scientific fields. Pay varies significantly by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, California reports a median salary of $133,230 and Washington $103,070, while New York shows $87,350 and Colorado $79,190. Massachusetts sits at $108,930. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro stands out with a median salary of $175,120, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro shows $134,670. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH reports $124,440, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV reports $108,220. These differences highlight how location choices can strongly influence income within this career, even when the underlying occupation is the same.
Job Outlook for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
National employment for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary, is 14,000, with projected employment growth of 2.6%. There are an estimated 1,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing hiring needs across institutions. The same 2.6% growth rate appears in the top states and metro areas listed, indicating consistent projected growth across these highlighted regions. For example, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all show 2.6% growth, as do metro areas such as New York-Newark-Jersey City, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim. This consistency suggests that the growth outlook for this occupation does not vary dramatically among the strongest regions identified. For students and job seekers, the combination of a defined national employment base, measurable projected growth, and regular annual openings indicates a stable long-term career path in higher education.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary?
Location can significantly shape opportunities in this field. Among states, California has a relatively high median salary of $133,230 with 1,410 employed and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York has the largest listed employment at 1,730, with a median salary of $87,350 and an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts combines a median salary of $108,930 with 470 employed and an opportunity score of 65.87. Colorado and Washington also appear as strong options, with median salaries of $79,190 and $103,070 and opportunity scores of 56.97 and 56.29, respectively. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area ranks highest by opportunity score at 77.27, with a median salary of $97,860 and employment of 1,120. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA offers a median salary of $175,120 and employment of 580, with an opportunity score of 62.99. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV also show strong mixes of salary, employment, and opportunity scores.
Education for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education requirement for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary, is a doctoral or professional degree. This reflects the advanced level of subject-matter expertise needed to teach in higher education. Success in this career draws on a broad skill set. Key scientific skills and mathematics form the technical backbone, while critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, support complex reasoning. Speaking and listening, plus writing and reading, are central for communicating ideas clearly in academic settings. Computers and information technology skills are also important, reflecting the need to work with digital tools and information. Creativity and innovation contribute to developing new approaches and materials, while leadership and adaptability support work with students and academic colleagues. Individuals considering this path should be prepared for extensive graduate study and ongoing development of both technical and communication skills.
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