Career Overview
Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also Known As
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Geology Professor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Astronomy Professor
- Atmospheric Sciences Professor
- Climatology Professor
- Climatology Teacher
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Crystallography Teacher
- Earth Science Faculty Member
- Earth Science Professor
- Earth Science Teacher
- Geochemistry Teacher
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as structural geology, micrometeorology, atmospheric thermodynamics, and physics.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Computers and Electronics
- Biology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Instructing
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
- Cooperation
- Innovation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: 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).
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Photoshop
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Carousel slide projectors
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Conference telephones
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Field emission scanning electron microscopes
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Handheld microphones
- Interactive whiteboard controllers
- Interactive whiteboards
Work Environment
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $53,310 |
| Median | $101,390 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $199,260 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 11,480
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $83,460
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $87,710
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $97,360
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $86,220
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $86,730
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.