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Geology professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $59,700lowest 10% earn less
- $77,26025th percentile
- $103,170median
- $135,51075th percentile
- $203,190top 10% earn more
A geology professor is counted by BLS under Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. The median pay was $103,170 a year[1], and jobs are projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.4%[2]
- Openings per year
- 800[5]
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree[6]
How much do geology professors make?
BLS counts geology professors in the category Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. In May 2025, the median wage was $103,170 a year[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) wage was $116,020[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4].
The range is wide:
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $59,700[3]. A percentile is a boundary line, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[8]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this category, not hourly wages[9].
These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary, both part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].
Pay by state and city
Among the 40 states with published data, California had the highest median at $133,230, followed by New Jersey at $131,930 and New Hampshire at $130,230[11]. Oregon ($128,140) and Connecticut ($123,770) came next[11]. South Dakota was last in the list at $63,160[11].
The most jobs were in New York (1,730), California (1,410), Texas (690), Massachusetts (470) and North Carolina (360)[12]. New York's median was $87,350[11].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the highest median at $175,120, then College Station-Bryan, TX at $160,550[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 1,120, with a median of $97,860[14].
Show median pay in 40 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| California[11] | $133,230 | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $131,930 | 270 |
| New Hampshire | $130,230 | 50 |
| Oregon | $128,140 | 340 |
| Connecticut | $123,770 | 230 |
| Virginia | $119,940 | 230 |
| Arizona | $110,600 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $108,930 | 470 |
| Maryland | $107,700 | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $107,370 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $106,990 | 50 |
| Nevada | $105,860 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $105,650 | 220 |
| Texas | $105,080 | 690 |
| Michigan | $104,780 | 180 |
| Oklahoma | $104,270 | 30 |
| Washington | $103,070 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $102,980 | 360 |
| Minnesota | $102,900 | 90 |
| Missouri | $102,200 | 130 |
| Kansas | $101,750 | 80 |
| Wyoming | $100,240 | 50 |
| Indiana | $99,970 | 130 |
| North Dakota | $98,000 | 60 |
| Iowa | $97,660 | 50 |
| Utah | $97,240 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $95,830 | 40 |
| Maine | $95,320 | 130 |
| Ohio | $94,890 | 150 |
| Georgia | $94,790 | 50 |
| New York | $87,350 | 1,730 |
| Illinois | $87,150 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $85,020 | 120 |
| Florida | $81,980 | 350 |
| Alabama | $81,940 | 90 |
| West Virginia | $81,850 | 40 |
| Colorado | $79,190 | 340 |
| Mississippi | $77,670 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $76,500 | 80 |
| South Dakota | $63,160 | 70 |
How to become a geology professor
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training[6]. In an ONET survey of 37 workers, 46% said a master's degree was required, 29% said a doctoral degree and 16% said post-doctoral training[15]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Five, where extensive preparation is needed[16].
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for postsecondary teachers covers a wider group of occupations than this page[17]. Its training details suggest this path:
- First: earn a bachelor's or master's degree, which doctoral programs typically require for enrollment[18].
- Next: complete a doctorate. Programs usually take several years and often end with a dissertation of original research[18].
- Then: consider gaining experience. Some teachers work as graduate teaching assistants, and in some sciences teachers have 2 to 3 years of postdoctoral research[19][20].
Schools can set different rules. Four-year colleges and universities typically want a doctorate, but some specialties or part-time jobs may accept a master's degree. Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree, though some prefer a doctorate[21][22].
Professors with a doctorate often seek tenure, a guarantee against being fired without just cause. It can take up to 7 years, moving up from assistant professor to associate professor to professor[23].
What geology professors do
O*NET describes these teachers as people who teach physical science courses other than chemistry and physics. Some mainly teach, and others combine teaching with research[24]. Typical tasks include:
- Preparing and giving lectures on topics such as structural geology or atmospheric thermodynamics[25].
- Grading assignments, papers and exams[25].
- Supervising lab work and field work[25].
- Planning and updating courses, syllabi and materials[25].
- Keeping attendance and grade records[25].
- Holding office hours to advise students[25].
- Reading current research and attending professional conferences[25].
Job titles reported by workers include Assistant Professor, Meteorology Professor and Oceanography Professor[26].
Where they work
Among postsecondary teachers in general, the largest employer group in 2025 was state-run colleges, universities and professional schools, at 41%[27]. Most postsecondary teachers work full time, though part-time work is common[28]. Classes are mostly held during the day, with some evening or weekend courses[29].
Schedules are generally flexible. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours, and otherwise set their own hours[30]. Summers vary by school. Some teachers teach, and others do research or professional development[31]. BLS notes that balancing teaching with research and publishing can be stressful, especially for beginning teachers seeking advancement[32].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of these teachers to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 12,000 to 12,300 jobs[2]. All occupations together are projected to grow 3.5%[33]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, while the OEWS count of about 9,900 jobs does not[34][2].
BLS expects about 800 openings a year on average[5]. These openings include jobs that come open when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[35].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is well above the all-occupations median, and the 90th percentile reaches $203,190[3][4]. The entry path is long, since the typical education is a doctoral or professional degree[6]. Growth is a little below the all-occupations rate, but openings still arise each year as people leave[2][33][5]. The facts fit someone who is ready for years of graduate study and who enjoys teaching, lab work and research[25][18].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a geology professor make?
- The median for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary was $103,170 a year in May 2025, and the mean was $116,020[1][7].
- What degree do you need to be a geology professor?
- BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[6]. Some community colleges may hire people with a master's degree[22].
- Is geology professor a growing job?
- BLS projects 2.4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][33]. About 800 openings a year are expected[5].
- What is the highest paying state for geology professors?
- California had the highest median among states with published data, at $133,230 a year, followed by New Jersey at $131,930[11].
- Do geology professors get hourly pay figures from BLS?
- No. BLS publishes only annual wages for this category[9].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $103,170 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 12,000 to 12,300 jobs (a change of +300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $59,700, 25th percentile $77,260, 75th percentile $135,510, 90th percentile $203,190. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 800 openings for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary was $116,020 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York 1,730; California 1,410; Texas 690; Massachusetts 470; North Carolina 360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $175,120; College Station-Bryan, TX $160,550; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $132,070; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $129,110; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $128,690; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $128,140; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $127,480; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $124,440. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,120 (median $97,860); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 580 (median $175,120); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 320 (median $124,440); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 250 (median $105,080); Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 170 (median $129,110); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 170 (median $128,140). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 25-1051.00 survey of workers (37 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 46%, Doctoral Degree 29%, Post-Doctoral Training 16%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-1051.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-1051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Astronomy Professor, Atmospheric Sciences Professor, Geology Professor, Instructor, Meteorology Professor, Oceanography Professor. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 9,900 people were employed as Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.