Geography teachers, postsecondary salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,550 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $97,590 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $102,350 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $165,460 | 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
Geography teachers, postsecondary pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 28 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $82,510 | $76,860 | $138,740 | 110 | 1.53 |
| California | $146,040 | $70,410 | $250,700 | 280 | 0.73 |
| Connecticut | $105,470 | $63,640 | $165,010 | 40 | 1.11 |
| Georgia | $85,420 | $51,910 | $133,990 | 60 | 0.61 |
| Illinois | $100,790 | $50,960 | $134,920 | 140 | 1.09 |
| Indiana | $82,830 | $39,230 | $174,330 | 70 | 1.01 |
| Kentucky | $86,790 | $54,150 | $124,430 | 50 | 1.07 |
| Maryland | $103,430 | $81,370 | $200,270 | 110 | 1.88 |
| Massachusetts | $101,870 | $66,930 | $160,020 | 60 | 0.75 |
| Michigan | $81,380 | $39,640 | $127,560 | 80 | 0.9 |
| Minnesota | $95,890 | $71,840 | $131,220 | 120 | 1.87 |
| Mississippi | $75,130 | $48,150 | $134,670 | 50 | 1.93 |
| Missouri | $83,530 | $66,030 | $128,260 | 40 | 0.71 |
| Nebraska | $72,300 | $36,800 | $96,450 | 40 | 1.95 |
| New Jersey | $78,540 | $32,220 | $196,850 | 50 | 0.51 |
| New Mexico | $89,060 | $61,540 | $128,560 | 30 | 1.78 |
| New York | $100,420 | $58,660 | $165,460 | 200 | 0.94 |
| North Carolina | $84,630 | $52,810 | $132,370 | 160 | 1.53 |
| Ohio | $81,290 | $40,700 | $118,080 | 150 | 1.28 |
| Oklahoma | $84,170 | $63,720 | $109,430 | 50 | 1.39 |
| Oregon | $113,500 | $37,990 | $190,300 | 180 | 4.33 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,120 | $50,300 | $132,230 | 220 | 1.67 |
| South Carolina | $85,810 | $55,670 | $156,800 | 80 | 1.53 |
| Tennessee | $81,220 | $52,120 | $118,760 | 80 | 1.13 |
| Texas | $99,510 | $61,480 | $165,300 | 180 | 0.59 |
| Vermont | $107,790 | $67,250 | $126,890 | 40 | 6.15 |
| Washington | $90,550 | $55,170 | $119,940 | 100 | 1.26 |
| Wisconsin | $78,710 | $62,090 | $178,110 | 70 | 1.09 |
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 geography teachers, postsecondary
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 300. 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 geography 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
- Geography Teacher Education CIP 13.1332
- Geography and Environmental Studies CIP 30.4401
- Geospatial Intelligence CIP 43.0407
- Geography CIP 45.0701
- Geographic Information Science and Cartography CIP 45.0702
- Geography, Other CIP 45.0799
- Geography and Anthropology CIP 45.1501
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as urbanization, environmental systems, and cultural geography.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Technology skills
- Geographic information system GIS systems (in demand)
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Mozilla Firefox (hot technology)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Blackboard Learn
- Caliper Maptitude
- Clark Labs CartaLinx
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.
Common job titles: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Geography Instructor, Geography Professor, Human Geography Instructor, Human Geography Professor, Instructor, Lecturer, Physical Geography Professor, 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 geography teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median annual wage for geography teachers, postsecondary was $97,590 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $52,550 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $165,460. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do geography 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 geography teachers, postsecondary a growing career?
BLS projects employment of geography teachers, postsecondary to change +2.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay geography teachers, postsecondary the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($146,040), Oregon ($113,500), Vermont ($107,790). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.