Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1051) earn a median $103,170 a year in the United States, with 9,900 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary do
These faculty teach the physical sciences other than chemistry and physics, with specialties such as astronomy, atmospheric sciences, and climatology. They lecture on subjects such as structural geology or climate systems, run laboratories and field trips, write and grade exams, and keep student records. Research faculty also collect and analyze data and publish their findings. Chemistry and physics teachers each have their own category, so a department that mixes them will see its staff split across several codes. Titles run from adjunct instructor to assistant and associate professor. Lecture topics include structural geology, micrometeorology, and atmospheric thermodynamics. Supervising laboratory work and field work, planning and revising curricula and course materials, and moderating classroom discussions complete the picture. They also compile and administer examinations or assign that work to others, and maintain student attendance records and grades.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a master's degree.
Also called: Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Astronomy Professor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 9,900 |
| Annual | $59,700 | $77,260 | $103,170 | $135,510 | $203,190 | $116,020 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,410 | 0.08 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $73,170 | $99,270 | $133,230 | $202,470 | $260,890 | $150,060 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 270 | 0.06 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $66,110 | $88,440 | $131,930 | $195,770 | $217,160 | $141,920 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.07 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $63,990 | $86,280 | $130,230 | $163,450 | $163,450 | $120,990 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 340 | 0.17 | 2.73 |
| Annual | $75,970 | $98,500 | $128,140 | $137,110 | $174,730 | $123,470 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 230 | 0.14 | 2.15 |
| Annual | $67,520 | $87,610 | $123,770 | $167,460 | $226,580 | $138,800 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,730 | 0.18 | 2.81 |
| Annual | $51,520 | $63,720 | $87,350 | $124,330 | $203,190 | $102,780 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,410 | 0.08 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $73,170 | $99,270 | $133,230 | $202,470 | $260,890 | $150,060 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 690 | 0.05 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $62,910 | $78,960 | $105,080 | $158,330 | $208,320 | $120,210 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 470 | 0.13 | 2.03 |
| Annual | $64,150 | $83,430 | $108,930 | $178,480 | $217,460 | $133,090 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 360 | 0.07 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $63,180 | $75,790 | $102,980 | $133,650 | $174,010 | $109,710 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 580 | 0.09 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $80,150 | $130,720 | $175,120 | $215,440 | $290,860 | $173,460 | ||||
| New Haven, CT | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 60 | 0.20 | 3.11 |
| Annual | $78,210 | $132,350 | $163,850 | $204,290 | $300,830 | $171,050 | ||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 60 | 0.03 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $93,840 | $109,040 | $163,120 | $209,610 | $250,700 | $162,440 | ||||
| College Station-Bryan, TX | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 100 | 0.75 | 11.83 |
| Annual | $76,690 | $111,920 | $160,550 | $204,210 | $208,320 | $152,820 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 60 | 0.03 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $100,410 | $120,150 | $134,670 | $197,250 | $280,040 | $163,180 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,120 | 0.12 | 1.86 |
| Annual | $58,840 | $69,410 | $97,860 | $136,690 | $205,470 | $115,190 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 580 | 0.09 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $80,150 | $130,720 | $175,120 | $215,440 | $290,860 | $173,460 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 320 | 0.12 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $66,840 | $83,430 | $124,440 | $186,320 | $217,460 | $136,180 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 250 | 0.16 | 2.57 |
| Annual | $62,610 | $86,150 | $105,080 | $140,440 | $214,540 | $120,250 | ||||
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 170 | 0.13 | 2.04 |
| Annual | $65,270 | $77,660 | $129,110 | $169,940 | $220,010 | $134,850 | ||||
Top industries employing atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools employ 76.0% of atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary nationally (7,520 jobs) at a median $104,370 a year, followed by Junior Colleges (23.3%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (0.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 7,520 | 76.0% | $104,370 | * |
| Junior Colleges NAICS 611200 | 2,310 | 23.3% | $93,180 | * |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 40 | 0.4% | $145,360 | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (9,900). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $98,070 for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary in May 2021 and $103,170 in May 2025, with employment of 10,250 and 9,900.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $98,070 | * | 10,250 |
| May 2022 | $97,770 | * | 11,150 |
| May 2023 | $100,690 | * | 11,770 |
| May 2024 | $101,390 | * | 11,480 |
| May 2025 | $103,170 | * | 9,900 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
40 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | * | $133,230 | $73,170 | $260,890 | 1,410 | 0.08 | 1.21 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | * | $131,930 | $66,110 | $217,160 | 270 | 0.06 | 0.98 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | * | $130,230 | $63,990 | $163,450 | 50 | 0.07 | 1.12 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | * | $128,140 | $75,970 | $174,730 | 340 | 0.17 | 2.73 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | * | $123,770 | $67,520 | $226,580 | 230 | 0.14 | 2.15 |
| 6 | Virginia profile | * | $119,940 | $65,240 | $214,740 | 230 | 0.06 | 0.89 |
| 7 | Arizona profile | * | $110,600 | $78,780 | $175,470 | 240 | 0.07 | 1.17 |
| 8 | Massachusetts profile | * | $108,930 | $64,150 | $217,460 | 470 | 0.13 | 2.03 |
| 9 | Maryland profile | * | $107,700 | $71,480 | $214,340 | 180 | 0.07 | 1.03 |
| 10 | Wisconsin profile | * | $107,370 | $67,180 | $175,740 | 130 | 0.05 | 0.71 |
| 11 | New Mexico profile | * | $106,990 | $61,380 | $137,420 | 50 | 0.06 | 0.95 |
| 12 | Nevada profile | * | $105,860 | $62,850 | $160,750 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.58 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania profile | * | $105,650 | $69,370 | $159,250 | 220 | 0.04 | 0.58 |
| 14 | Texas profile | * | $105,080 | $62,910 | $208,320 | 690 | 0.05 | 0.77 |
| 15 | Michigan profile | * | $104,780 | $55,210 | $170,720 | 180 | 0.04 | 0.66 |
| 16 | Oklahoma profile | * | $104,270 | $67,180 | $180,830 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| 17 | Washington profile | * | $103,070 | $58,360 | $165,070 | 210 | 0.06 | 0.91 |
| 18 | North Carolina profile | * | $102,980 | $63,180 | $174,010 | 360 | 0.07 | 1.13 |
| 19 | Minnesota profile | * | $102,900 | $66,680 | $162,200 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.49 |
| 20 | Missouri profile | * | $102,200 | $57,690 | $192,270 | 130 | 0.04 | 0.68 |
| 21 | Kansas profile | * | $101,750 | $57,460 | $172,460 | 80 | 0.06 | 0.91 |
| 22 | Wyoming profile | * | $100,240 | $52,790 | $129,920 | 50 | 0.17 | 2.68 |
| 23 | Indiana profile | * | $99,970 | $60,520 | $160,770 | 130 | 0.04 | 0.65 |
| 24 | North Dakota profile | * | $98,000 | $79,960 | $141,730 | 60 | 0.13 | 2.05 |
| 25 | Iowa profile | * | $97,660 | $68,690 | $132,480 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.49 |
| 26 | Utah profile | * | $97,240 | $62,890 | $162,180 | 180 | 0.10 | 1.61 |
| 27 | Kentucky profile | * | $95,830 | $60,860 | $179,250 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.34 |
| 28 | Maine profile | * | $95,320 | $60,760 | $170,050 | 130 | 0.20 | 3.09 |
| 29 | Ohio profile | * | $94,890 | $64,340 | $158,860 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.42 |
| 30 | Georgia profile | * | $94,790 | $76,300 | $126,060 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.18 |
| 31 | New York profile | * | $87,350 | $51,520 | $203,190 | 1,730 | 0.18 | 2.81 |
| 32 | Illinois profile | * | $87,150 | $49,400 | $170,660 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.40 |
| 33 | Tennessee profile | * | $85,020 | $50,250 | $127,530 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.57 |
| 34 | Florida profile | * | $81,980 | $58,730 | $140,910 | 350 | 0.04 | 0.55 |
| 35 | Alabama profile | * | $81,940 | $56,080 | $127,790 | 90 | 0.04 | 0.67 |
| 36 | West Virginia profile | * | $81,850 | $57,010 | $120,560 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.90 |
| 37 | Colorado profile | * | $79,190 | $45,030 | $171,850 | 340 | 0.12 | 1.84 |
| 38 | Mississippi profile | * | $77,670 | $61,380 | $100,340 | 120 | 0.10 | 1.63 |
| 39 | South Carolina profile | * | $76,500 | $53,990 | $115,530 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.58 |
| 40 | South Dakota profile | * | $63,160 | $59,480 | $116,740 | 70 | 0.16 | 2.46 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (25-1050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Educational Instruction and Library Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 25-1051 Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them. A withheld or top-coded cell in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 25-1051, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 25-1051.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.