Environmental science teachers, postsecondary salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $57,780 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $94,980 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $103,610 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $164,190 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 39 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $64,700 | $43,780 | $76,460 | 40 | 0.47 |
| Arizona | $81,730 | $65,480 | $135,160 | 190 | 1.39 |
| Arkansas | $59,910 | $58,590 | $71,580 | 40 | 0.75 |
| California | $108,290 | $65,250 | $168,810 | 300 | 0.38 |
| Colorado | $78,800 | $47,370 | $160,250 | 210 | 1.7 |
| Connecticut | Data unavailable | 120 | 1.66 | ||
| District of Columbia | $99,300 | $65,480 | $203,530 | ||
| Florida | $77,830 | $62,140 | $100,900 | 80 | 0.19 |
| Georgia | $84,290 | $59,790 | $161,590 | 330 | 1.56 |
| Illinois | $104,440 | $62,680 | $139,060 | 170 | 0.67 |
| Indiana | $78,400 | $59,540 | $132,210 | 70 | 0.48 |
| Iowa | $79,570 | $53,580 | $108,130 | 40 | 0.57 |
| Kentucky | $139,110 | $63,870 | $179,770 | 70 | 0.83 |
| Maine | $92,120 | $60,040 | $140,860 | 30 | 1.15 |
| Maryland | $131,060 | $71,080 | $228,470 | 220 | 1.82 |
| Massachusetts | $106,110 | $64,730 | $170,270 | 280 | 1.76 |
| Michigan | $112,730 | $64,360 | $175,040 | 270 | 1.45 |
| Minnesota | $93,640 | $66,910 | $187,050 | 120 | 0.95 |
| Mississippi | $76,210 | $49,210 | $161,480 | ||
| Missouri | $83,210 | $55,220 | $131,860 | 100 | 0.79 |
| Montana | $97,890 | $41,720 | $126,470 | 60 | 2.6 |
| Nevada | $94,820 | $53,920 | $188,700 | 50 | 0.68 |
| New Hampshire | $102,650 | $66,530 | $160,300 | 90 | 2.92 |
| New Jersey | $82,890 | $34,420 | $160,350 | 350 | 1.88 |
| New Mexico | $111,270 | $54,560 | $144,390 | 50 | 1.41 |
| New York | $102,640 | $63,800 | $174,100 | 610 | 1.47 |
| North Carolina | $82,360 | $50,080 | $143,160 | 210 | 0.97 |
| Ohio | $82,920 | $36,700 | $176,530 | 210 | 0.87 |
| Oklahoma | $113,680 | $53,450 | $173,490 | 30 | 0.45 |
| Oregon | $90,270 | $66,570 | $165,780 | 170 | 2.01 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,640 | $60,660 | $127,910 | 240 | 0.93 |
| South Carolina | $99,540 | $59,320 | $129,600 | 130 | 1.29 |
| Tennessee | $98,560 | $61,310 | $130,850 | 100 | 0.72 |
| Texas | $79,160 | $50,280 | $164,190 | 380 | 0.63 |
| Utah | $103,510 | $61,570 | $160,280 | 40 | 0.58 |
| Vermont | $102,580 | $52,150 | $182,160 | 100 | 7.38 |
| Virginia | $104,730 | $51,480 | $170,130 | 300 | 1.69 |
| Washington | $101,430 | $61,360 | $159,940 | 190 | 1.27 |
| Wisconsin | $79,120 | $59,390 | $128,260 | 160 | 1.29 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Environmental Studies CIP 03.0103
- Environmental Science CIP 03.0104
- Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education CIP 13.1316
- Conservation Biology CIP 26.1307
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology CIP 26.1310
- Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other CIP 26.1399
- Sustainability Studies CIP 30.3301
- Environmental Geosciences CIP 30.4101
- Geobiology CIP 30.4301
- Geography and Environmental Studies CIP 30.4401
- Environmental Chemistry CIP 40.0509
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Technology skills
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Blackboard Learn
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- DOC Cop
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- Email software
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Environmental Engineering Professor, Environmental Sciences Professor, Environmental Studies Professor, Faculty Member, Instructor, Lecturer, Professor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do environmental science teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median annual wage for environmental science teachers, postsecondary was $94,980 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $57,780 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $164,190. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do environmental science teachers, postsecondary need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is environmental science teachers, postsecondary a growing career?
BLS projects employment of environmental science teachers, postsecondary to change +2.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay environmental science teachers, postsecondary the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Kentucky ($139,110), Maryland ($131,060), Oklahoma ($113,680). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.