Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Earth Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Astronomy Professor, Atmospheric Sciences Professor
Median pay
$103,170
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$59,700 – $203,190
People employed
9,900
Holland code
SIR
Social · Investigative · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Do you want the same hours every week?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (40 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary salary in every state →
What atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary do
- 01Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- 02Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as structural geology, micrometeorology, and atmospheric thermodynamics.
- 03Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- 04Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- 05Supervise laboratory work and field work.
- 06Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
Knowledge
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Geneticists73% · group pay
- Astronomers72% · +25%
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses71% · group pay
- Epidemiologists70% · −15%
- Speech-Language Pathologists70% · −5%
Change into atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Epidemiologists74% · $87,220
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary74% · $42,910
- Astronomers73% · $128,820
- Geneticists73% · $98,920
- Preventive Medicine Physicians73% · $265,930
Majors that lead here
- Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
- Earth Science Teacher Education
- Climate Science
- Earth Systems Science
- Environmental Geosciences
- Mathematics and Atmospheric/Oceanic Science
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Planetary Astronomy and Science
- Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.