25 Series · SOC 25-1051
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $103,170
- Median / year
- $203,190
- Top 10% earn
- +2.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 9,900
- US workers
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $103,170 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $103,170, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $59,700 (10th percentile) to $203,190 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 9,900 US workers. California pays the most ($133,230), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $103,170, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 86% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Educational Instruction and Library, it ranks #5 of 64 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.6% by 2033.
- $103,170
- Median annual wage
- Top 14%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #5 of 64
- in Educational Instruction and Library
- 3.4×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $133,230. Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1051) pays a national median of $103,170 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $59,700 at the 10th percentile to $203,190 at the 90th, with a mean of $116,020 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 9,900 Americans work in this occupation across 40 reporting states and 46 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Doctoral or professional degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $133,230, which is +29% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $175,120 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$103,170
per year
Median Hourly
N/A
per hour
Mean Salary
$116,020
average
Employment
9,900
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$103,170 Top 14% higher than 86% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 25-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 25-series occupations with growth data, Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary sits on the slower-growing side at +2.6% growth and $103,170 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2.6%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.3/100K
Injury Rate
0.8/100
Danger Index
3.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- ▸ Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as structural geology, micrometeorology, and atmospheric thermodynamics.
- ▸ Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- ▸ Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- ▸ Supervise laboratory work and field work.
- ▸ Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- ▸ Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- ▸ Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- ▸ Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- ▸ Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$59,700
25th Percentile
$77,260
Median
$103,170
75th Percentile
$135,510
90th Percentile
$203,190
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 40 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $133,230 | +29% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $131,930 | +28% above national |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $130,230 | +26% above national |
| 4 | Oregon | $128,140 | +24% above national |
| 5 | Connecticut | $123,770 | +20% above national |
| 6 | Virginia | $119,940 | +16% above national |
| 7 | Arizona | $110,600 | +7% above national |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $108,930 | +6% above national |
| 9 | Maryland | $107,700 | +4% above national |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $107,370 | +4% above national |
| 11 | New Mexico | $106,990 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Nevada | $105,860 | +3% above national |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $105,650 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Texas | $105,080 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Michigan | $104,780 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $104,270 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Washington | $103,070 | same as national |
| 18 | North Carolina | $102,980 | same as national |
| 19 | Minnesota | $102,900 | same as national |
| 20 | Missouri | $102,200 | 1% below national |
| 21 | Kansas | $101,750 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Wyoming | $100,240 | 3% below national |
| 23 | Indiana | $99,970 | 3% below national |
| 24 | North Dakota | $98,000 | 5% below national |
| 25 | Iowa | $97,660 | 5% below national |
| 26 | Utah | $97,240 | 6% below national |
| 27 | Kentucky | $95,830 | 7% below national |
| 28 | Maine | $95,320 | 8% below national |
| 29 | Ohio | $94,890 | 8% below national |
| 30 | Georgia | $94,790 | 8% below national |
| 31 | New York | $87,350 | 15% below national |
| 32 | Illinois | $87,150 | 16% below national |
| 33 | Tennessee | $85,020 | 18% below national |
| 34 | Florida | $81,980 | 21% below national |
| 35 | Alabama | $81,940 | 21% below national |
| 36 | West Virginia | $81,850 | 21% below national |
| 37 | Colorado | $79,190 | 23% below national |
| 38 | Mississippi | $77,670 | 25% below national |
| 39 | South Carolina | $76,500 | 26% below national |
| 40 | South Dakota | $63,160 | 39% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 46 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $175,120 | +70% above national |
| 2 | New Haven, CT | $163,850 | +59% above national |
| 3 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $163,120 | +58% above national |
| 4 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $160,550 | +56% above national |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,670 | +31% above national |
| 6 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $133,660 | +30% above national |
| 7 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $132,070 | +28% above national |
| 8 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $131,930 | +28% above national |
| 9 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $129,110 | +25% above national |
| 10 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $128,690 | +25% above national |
| 11 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $128,140 | +24% above national |
| 12 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $127,480 | +24% above national |
| 13 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $125,320 | +21% above national |
| 14 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $124,440 | +21% above national |
| 15 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $123,480 | +20% above national |
| 16 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $121,760 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $112,370 | +9% above national |
| 18 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $110,600 | +7% above national |
| 19 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $108,460 | +5% above national |
| 20 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $108,220 | +5% above national |
| 21 | Wilmington, NC | $107,850 | +5% above national |
| 22 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $107,450 | +4% above national |
| 23 | Bangor, ME | $107,240 | +4% above national |
| 24 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $105,700 | +2% above national |
| 25 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,080 | +2% above national |
| 26 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $102,980 | same as national |
| 27 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $102,880 | same as national |
| 28 | Columbus, OH | $101,380 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $100,710 | 2% below national |
| 30 | El Paso, TX | $99,030 | 4% below national |
| 31 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $97,860 | 5% below national |
| 32 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $89,900 | 13% below national |
| 33 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $86,760 | 16% below national |
| 34 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $85,030 | 18% below national |
| 35 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $82,810 | 20% below national |
| 36 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $82,190 | 20% below national |
| 37 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $81,600 | 21% below national |
| 38 | Syracuse, NY | $81,440 | 21% below national |
| 39 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $79,770 | 23% below national |
| 40 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $76,740 | 26% below national |
| 41 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $76,500 | 26% below national |
| 42 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $75,480 | 27% below national |
| 43 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $75,020 | 27% below national |
| 44 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $65,920 | 36% below national |
| 45 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $65,500 | 37% below national |
| 46 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $63,890 | 38% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 25 (education) with comparable pay and career paths.
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
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SOC 25-1041
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SOC 25-1061
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
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SOC 25-4011
Frequently Asked Questions
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What state pays Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary the most? ▼
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How dangerous is being a Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary? ▼
Is Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary a good career? ▼
How does Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $135,510/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $133,230/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.