Compensation
Median Pay
$97,590
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Geography teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$97,590
Projected Growth
3.3%
Annual Openings
300
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
4,000
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
3.3%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
300
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.
Writing & reading
97 / 100
97%
Speaking & listening
92 / 100
92%
Creativity & innovation
86 / 100
86%
Computers & information technology
84 / 100
84%
Critical & analytical thinking
83 / 100
83%
Science
81 / 100
81%
Leadership
69 / 100
69%
Adaptability
60 / 100
60%
Mathematics
57 / 100
57%
Interpersonal
54 / 100
54%
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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 Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Geography teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Geography teachers at the postsecondary level work in a relatively small, specialized field, with national employment of about 4,000. The role typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting its focus on advanced instruction and scholarship. Nationally, the median annual salary is $86,730, indicating solid earning potential for qualified educators. Projected employment growth of 3.3% suggests that opportunities are expected to expand over time, though annual openings are currently listed as 0, pointing to a competitive market for available roles. Success in this career draws on strong skills in writing and reading, speaking and listening, and critical and analytical thinking, alongside competencies in science, mathematics, computers and information technology. Leadership, interpersonal strengths, creativity, innovation, and adaptability also appear important. For individuals interested in teaching geography in higher education, this career offers a focused path with defined educational expectations and a combination of intellectual, communication, and technical skill demands.
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Geography teachers, postsecondary, earn a national median annual salary of $86,730, with notable variation across states and metro areas. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, California shows a particularly high median salary of $146,040, while Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, and Washington offer median salaries ranging from $90,550 to $103,430. At the metro level, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA matches the $146,040 median, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA; and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN all provide median salaries close to or above $99,000. These figures indicate that earnings can differ significantly by location, with certain states and metros offering substantially higher pay than the national median. For candidates able to be flexible on location, salary comparisons across these regions may be an important consideration.
Job Outlook for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Nationally, geography teachers, postsecondary, have employment of about 4,000 and a projected employment growth rate of 3.3%. This projected growth points to an expectation of expansion in the field. At the same time, annual openings are listed as 0, suggesting that, based on the available figures, movement into these positions may be limited and competition for roles may be strong. The consistent 3.3% growth rate shown for the top states and metro areas indicates that this projection is broadly reflected across several key regions. People considering this career should recognize that, while there is projected growth, the overall size of the occupation is relatively small. Individuals may want to pay close attention to regional differences in opportunity scores and employment counts when evaluating where to focus a job search within this specialized academic career path.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary?
For geography teachers, postsecondary, location plays a major role in both salary and opportunity. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $146,040, employment of 280, and the highest CareerGPS opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, and Washington all have opportunity scores above 52 and median salaries between $90,550 and $103,430, with state-level employment ranging from 60 to 200. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ has the highest opportunity score at 77.27, with a median salary of $99,640, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA combines a high median salary of $146,040 with an opportunity score of 62.99. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN also show solid opportunity scores between about 55 and 64. Together, these figures highlight meaningful regional differences in both salary levels and overall opportunity for this career.
Education for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education requirement for geography teachers, postsecondary, is a doctoral or professional degree. This advanced level of education aligns with the expectations of teaching at colleges and universities, where deep subject-matter expertise and strong academic skills are essential. The leading skills associated with this occupation portray a well-rounded, intellectually demanding profile. Writing and reading, along with speaking and listening, are central, reflecting the importance of clear communication in both teaching and scholarly work. Critical and analytical thinking, science, and mathematics support rigorous examination of geographic topics and related evidence. Skills in computers and information technology are also important, suggesting a need to work effectively with digital tools and information. Leadership, interpersonal strengths, creativity and innovation, and adaptability further support classroom instruction, collaboration, and professional responsibilities. Individuals pursuing the required doctoral or professional degree can expect to draw on and develop this broad set of capabilities throughout their training and career.
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