Geography Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for geography teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $97,590, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $97,590
- Mean annual wage
- $102,350
- Median hourly wage
- —
- Employment
- 3,330
3,330 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,550 | — |
| 25th percentile | $74,690 | — |
| Median (50th) | $97,590 | — |
| 75th percentile | $123,900 | — |
| 90th percentile | $165,460 | — |
Highest-paying states for geography teachers, postsecondary
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $146,040 | 280 |
| Oregon | $113,500 | 180 |
| Vermont | $107,790 | 40 |
| Connecticut | $105,470 | 40 |
| Maryland | $103,430 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $101,870 | 60 |
| Illinois | $100,790 | 140 |
| New York | $100,420 | 200 |
| Texas | $99,510 | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,120 | 220 |
Lowest-paying states
- Nebraska: $72,300 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $75,130 median annual wage
- New Jersey: $78,540 median annual wage
- Wisconsin: $78,710 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $81,220 median annual wage
About this occupation
Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Typical tasks
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as urbanization, environmental systems, and cultural geography.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 2.0% |
| Associate's degree | 1.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 15.1% |
| Master's degree | 30.6% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 48.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.