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Higher Education
University of California, Harvard University, Arizona State University
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Environmental science teachers at the college level explain topics like ecology, climate, pollution, and resource use while also keeping up with current research in the field. The job is unusual because it mixes teaching with publishing and conference work, so the real tradeoff is between classroom time and the pressure to stay active as a researcher.
Also known as Environmental Science ProfessorProfessor of Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science LecturerEnvironmental Studies ProfessorEnvironmental Science Instructor
Median Salary
$87,710
Mean $100,360
U.S. Workforce
~7K
0.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.9%
9K to 9.3K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education 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 ~7K workers, with a median annual pay of $87,710 and roughly 0.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 9 K in 2024 to 9.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral degree in environmental science or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Tenured Professor or Department Chair. High-value skills usually include Research Design, Field Sampling & Lab Methods, Statistical Analysis with R, SPSS & Excel, and GIS with ArcGIS & QGIS, paired with soft skills such as Reading Comprehension, Speaking, and Active Listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Work with other faculty to plan courses, solve teaching problems, and coordinate department needs.
- Lead lectures and class discussions that help students understand environmental science topics through real examples.
- Put together reading lists, articles, books, and other materials for students to study outside class.
- Create exams, papers, and lab assignments, then grade student work and give feedback.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Work with other faculty to plan courses, solve teaching problems, and coordinate department needs.
02 Lead lectures and class discussions that help students understand environmental science topics through real examples.
03 Put together reading lists, articles, books, and other materials for students to study outside class.
04 Create exams, papers, and lab assignments, then grade student work and give feedback.
05 Run research projects in a specific area of environmental science and share the results in journals or presentations.
06 Keep up with new research, track attendance and grades, and maintain the records the school requires.
Industries That Hire
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, City College of San Francisco, Santa Monica College
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Online Universities and Learning Platforms
Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, Coursera
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Research Institutes
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Battelle, National Center for Atmospheric Research
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Extension and Outreach Programs
Penn State Extension, Cornell Cooperative Extension, University of Florida IFAS Extension
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong for a teaching role, with mean annual wages of $100,360 and a median of $87,710.
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There is no required work experience and no on-the-job training, so once you have the degree, you can move straight into teaching.
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The work combines classroom teaching with research and publishing, which suits people who want both instruction and scholarship.
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You get to stay close to real environmental issues and new science instead of repeating the same material year after year.
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About 0.7K annual openings means jobs do come up regularly, even in a small occupation.
Challenges
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The occupation is small, with only 7,130 workers now and 9.3K projected by 2034, so the number of openings is limited.
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Growth is only 2.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is modest and does not suggest a big wave of new jobs.
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The education bar is high: 52.49% of workers have a doctorate and another 29.67% complete post-doctoral training.
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Many jobs depend on university budgets, enrollment, and research funding, so pay and stability can shift when institutions cut costs.
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The academic career ladder is narrow, and many instructors end up in adjunct or contract roles before they can reach a stable faculty job.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-3 years
$32K-$45K
Helps with labs, discussion sections, grading, and course preparation while building teaching and research experience.
Adjunct Instructor
2-6 years
$46K-$65K
Teaches one or more classes, handles grading and office hours, and often works on short-term contracts each term.
Environmental Science Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
5-12 years
$76K-$104K
Designs courses, teaches students, and may also do research and publish in the field.
Tenured Professor or Department Chair
10+ years
$105K-$145K
Leads programs, mentors other faculty, and splits time between teaching, research, and administrative work.
Education Paths
Doctoral degree in environmental science or a related field
The most common entry point, held by 52.49% of workers in this role.
Post-doctoral training
A very common academic step, used by 29.67% of workers after the doctorate and before a faculty job.
Master's degree in environmental science or a related subject
An alternative path used by 17.5% of workers, usually paired with strong teaching, lab, or research experience.
Post-master's certificate
A niche pathway, held by 0.34% of workers, sometimes used to add a teaching or subject-specific credential.
Key Skills
Technical
Research Design, Field Sampling & Lab Methods 78%
Statistical Analysis with R, SPSS & Excel 77%
GIS with ArcGIS & QGIS 76%
Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Administration 74%
Zotero, EndNote & Academic Publishing Tools 72%
Soft Skills
Reading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingInstructingWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+2.9%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 9K to 9.3 K over the next decade, representing 2.9% growth. Around 0.7 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.