How to become an Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary
Official title: Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Astronomy Professor, Atmospheric Sciences Professor, Geology Professor, Instructor, Meteorology Professor, Oceanography Professor, Professor, Research Professor
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.
Main tasks
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as structural geology, micrometeorology, and atmospheric thermodynamics.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Supervise laboratory work and field work.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
How to become one
Educational requirements vary by subject and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges, and others may need work experience in their field of expertise.
Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Agriculture & Environment degrees, Offered by 26 universities in the US
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $103,170 a year The middle half earn $77,260 to $135,510.
- About 12,000 people work in this job now, and about 12,300 are projected by 2035. (+2.4%)
- People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Related jobs
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary?
Educational requirements vary by subject and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges, and others may need work experience in their field of expertise.
How much does an Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $103,170 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $77,260 to $135,510.
Is an Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 12,000 to about 12,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary?
Usually. 94% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of an Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary?
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.