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Higher Education
Harvard University, Arizona State University, University of California, Berkeley
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Geography teachers at the college level do more than talk about maps: they build courses, lead discussions, grade work, and keep the subject tied to current research. The job is distinct because it mixes teaching with scholarship and departmental service, so the biggest tradeoff is between time spent in the classroom and time spent staying active in the field.
Also known as Geography InstructorAssistant Professor of GeographyLecturer in GeographyProfessor of GeographyGeography Faculty
Median Salary
$86,730
Mean $99,020
U.S. Workforce
~3K
0.3K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.3%
4K to 4.2K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Geography 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 ~3K workers, with a median annual pay of $86,730 and roughly 0.3K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 4 K in 2024 to 4.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral Degree in Geography or a Closely Related Field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Full Professor or Department Chair. High-value skills usually include ArcGIS Pro, QGIS & Spatial Analysis, Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Tools, and Excel, SPSS & Data Visualization, paired with soft skills such as Instructing, Speaking, and Writing.
Core Responsibilities
- Build course plans, lesson materials, homework, and reading lists for geography classes.
- Lead class discussions and explain topics like regions, climate, population, and spatial patterns in everyday terms.
- Write, give, and grade quizzes, exams, and other student assignments.
- Update lessons and teaching methods when the subject area changes or a class is not working well.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Build course plans, lesson materials, homework, and reading lists for geography classes.
02 Lead class discussions and explain topics like regions, climate, population, and spatial patterns in everyday terms.
03 Write, give, and grade quizzes, exams, and other student assignments.
04 Update lessons and teaching methods when the subject area changes or a class is not working well.
05 Talk with students about course choices, degree plans, and career directions.
06 Serve on department committees, work with other faculty, and keep up with new research through journals and conferences.
Industries That Hire
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, Los Angeles Community College District
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Online Education
Coursera, edX, Southern New Hampshire University
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Educational Publishing
Pearson, McGraw Hill, Cengage
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Government and Public Research
U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Land Management, National Geographic Society
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is relatively strong for education work, with a median annual wage of $86,730 and a mean of $99,020.
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BLS says no work experience or on-the-job training is required, so the path is clear once you reach the right degree level.
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The work mixes teaching, course design, advising, and research, which helps keep the job from becoming repetitive.
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If you like explaining ideas, writing, and discussing maps or spatial patterns, the daily work fits those strengths well.
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You can build deep subject expertise and shape what students learn through curriculum decisions and department service.
Challenges
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The labor market is very small, with only 3,290 workers and about 0.3K annual openings, so openings can be hard to land.
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Growth is modest at 3.3% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is not expanding quickly.
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The education requirement is high: 80.29% of workers have a doctoral degree, so getting in can mean many years of school.
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A lot of jobs depend on enrollment and institutional budgets, so hiring can tighten quickly when colleges cut sections or freeze positions.
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The career ceiling can be narrow unless you move into tenure-track, research, or administrative roles, which creates extra competition for advancement.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-2 years
$35K-$48K
This stage is usually built around helping with classes, discussion sections, grading, and learning how college teaching works.
Adjunct Geography Instructor
1-4 years
$50K-$70K
At this level, the focus is on teaching one or more courses at a time, often with less job security and fewer benefits.
Geography Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$78K-$105K
This is the core teaching role, combining classroom instruction, curriculum work, student advising, and some committee service.
Full Professor or Department Chair
10+ years
$110K-$150K
Senior staff spend more time on leadership, curriculum decisions, mentoring junior faculty, and representing the department.
Education Paths
Doctoral Degree in Geography or a Closely Related Field
The main route into this job, held by 80.29% of workers, and BLS says a doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry credential.
Post-Master's Certificate
An alternative route, held by 9.75% of workers, that can add teaching, GIS, or specialty training after a master's degree.
Master's Degree
A smaller path, held by 9.51% of workers, often used by people who later continue toward a doctorate or teach in more applied programs.
Post-Doctoral Training
A rare route, held by 0.45% of workers, usually for candidates who want extra research experience or a stronger publication record.
Key Skills
Technical
ArcGIS Pro, QGIS & Spatial Analysis 80%
Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Tools 79%
Excel, SPSS & Data Visualization 78%
Google Earth, Census Data & Geographic Databases 77%
Soft Skills
InstructingSpeakingWritingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingComplex Problem Solving Job Outlook and Trends
+3.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.3K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 4K to 4.2 K over the next decade, representing 3.3% growth. Around 0.3 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.