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Public Research Universities
University of California, Penn State, Arizona State University
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
These instructors teach college students about the atmosphere, oceans, geology, and space-related earth systems, usually in upper-level undergraduate or graduate classes. The job stands out because it blends teaching with constant subject refreshers and academic service, so you are both explaining science and keeping up with it. The tradeoff is that the pay is strong for academia, but the path usually demands years of graduate training and the number of openings is limited.
Also known as Earth Science ProfessorGeology ProfessorAtmospheric Science ProfessorOceanography ProfessorMarine Science Professor
Median Salary
$101,390
Mean $112,950
U.S. Workforce
~11K
1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.6%
14K to 14.4K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~11K workers, with a median annual pay of $101,390 and roughly 1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 14 K in 2024 to 14.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's Degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Professor / Department Chair. High-value skills usually include Scientific subject-matter expertise in atmospheric, earth, marine & space sciences, Curriculum design, syllabus planning & assessment development, and Research methods and literature review, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Keep attendance, grades, and other student records up to date.
- Build and revise course plans, lecture slides, homework, and other class materials.
- Teach lectures on topics such as geology, weather systems, and atmospheric processes.
- Lead class discussions, answer student questions, and help students work through difficult concepts.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Keep attendance, grades, and other student records up to date.
02 Build and revise course plans, lecture slides, homework, and other class materials.
03 Teach lectures on topics such as geology, weather systems, and atmospheric processes.
04 Lead class discussions, answer student questions, and help students work through difficult concepts.
05 Grade assignments, tests, and papers.
06 Stay current in the field by reading research, talking with colleagues, attending conferences, and serving on department committees.
Industries That Hire
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Private Universities
MIT, Stanford, Columbia
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, San Diego Mesa College
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Federal Science Agencies
NASA, NOAA, USGS
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Oceanographic Research Institutes
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is relatively strong for teaching work, with a median annual wage of $101,390 and a mean of $112,950.
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You get to teach specialized subjects like geology, atmospheric thermodynamics, and ocean science instead of broad introductory material.
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The job lets you shape what students learn by updating syllabi, homework, lectures, and course methods.
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The work stays intellectually fresh because you have to keep up with new research and professional conferences.
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There is variety in the day-to-day work, mixing lectures, grading, student discussions, and department service.
Challenges
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The training path is long: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry point, and O*NET shows most workers have at least a master's or doctorate.
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Growth is slow, at just 2.6% from 2024 to 2034, and the field is projected to add only about 1.0k openings a year.
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Many jobs are concentrated in colleges and universities, so finding the right opening can mean relocating or waiting for the right campus opening.
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Tenure-track and full-time faculty jobs are competitive, and many schools rely on adjunct or contract instructors, which can mean unstable schedules and lower pay.
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The job has a heavy invisible workload: beyond teaching, you still have grading, records, committee meetings, and staying current in the field.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-3 years
$35K-$49K
Helps with labs, discussion sections, grading, and classroom setup while finishing graduate school.
Adjunct Instructor
1-5 years
$50K-$69K
Teaches one or more college classes on a part-time or contract basis, often with limited job security.
Assistant Professor THIS ROLE
3-8 years
$70K-$94K
Teaches courses, advises students, and starts building a record of scholarship and service.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary
8-15 years
$95K-$125K
Leads advanced classes, updates course materials, grades student work, and takes part in department service.
Professor / Department Chair
15+ years
$126K-$175K
Oversees programs, mentors junior faculty, and shapes hiring, curriculum, and department priorities.
Education Paths
Master's Degree
The most common preparation path, held by 46.48% of workers in this role.
Doctoral Degree
A major route into the job, held by 28.9% of workers and often preferred for tenure-track openings.
Post-Doctoral Training
An additional step for research-heavy candidates, seen for 16.25% of workers in this role.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
A smaller alternative path, listed for 5.07% of workers, usually alongside a strong science background.
Key Skills
Technical
Scientific subject-matter expertise in atmospheric, earth, marine & space sciences 80%
Curriculum design, syllabus planning & assessment development 80%
Research methods and literature review 80%
MATLAB, Python & R for data analysis 78%
ArcGIS, QGIS & remote sensing software 76%
Canvas, Blackboard & LaTeX 75%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingInstructingReading ComprehensionWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+2.6%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 14K to 14.4 K over the next decade, representing 2.6% growth. Around 1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.