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Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $94,980 Median per year Most earn $57,780–$164,190

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
  • Review papers or serve on editorial boards for scientific journals, and review grant proposals for various agencies.
  • Write letters of recommendation for students.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools91.2%
  • Junior colleges7.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Becoming an Environmental Science Teacher at the college level usually takes a doctoral degree, so expect roughly 10 or more years of school and experience after high school. Most people first spend 2 to 4 years in research or a related job before they teach.

  1. Bachelor's degree in environmental science or a related field

    4 years

    You build a foundation in ecology, earth systems, chemistry, and data analysis, and you can start doing lab or field work that shows you enjoy the subject.

  2. Doctoral degree (PhD) in environmental science or a related field

    4-6 years

    You design and carry out your own research project and write a dissertation, which proves you can produce new knowledge and teach it to others.

  3. Postdoctoral Researcher

    2-4 years

    You work on research under a senior scientist, publish papers, and build the teaching and grant-writing experience that colleges look for in faculty.

  4. Environmental Science Teacher, Postsecondary

    Ongoing

    You teach environmental science courses at a college or university, and some of your time may also go to research.

Where it can lead

  1. Associate Professor of Environmental Science

    About 5+ years in a faculty role of experience first

    You take on more responsibility for courses, research funding, and student mentoring, and you usually earn tenure after showing strong teaching and research records.

  2. Department Chair

    Several years as a senior faculty member of experience first

    You lead a department's budget, hiring, and curriculum planning, which requires strong leadership and communication skills on top of teaching and research.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, earth science, and statisticsThese classes build the science and math skills that environmental science degrees depend on.
  • Join a science club or environmental clubClubs give you a chance to do projects, meet people who care about the environment, and practice explaining your ideas.
  • Enter a science fairDesigning your own experiment and presenting it teaches you how real research works.
  • Volunteer for a local park, river cleanup, or nature centerField volunteering shows you what environmental work looks like and helps you decide if you enjoy it.
  • Get a starter job or summer job outdoors or in a labJobs like camp counselor, garden helper, or lab assistant build responsibility and show you real science settings.

In college

  • Major in environmental science and take statistics and research methodsA focused major plus strong stats skills prepares you for graduate school, which is required for this career.
  • Work as a research assistant with a professorHelping with a real research project teaches you lab or field methods and can lead to a letter of recommendation for graduate school.
  • Do an environmental internship or summer field jobWorking with a government agency, nonprofit, or consulting firm shows you how environmental science is applied outside the classroom.
  • Become a teaching assistant or tutorLeading labs or tutoring builds the teaching experience that college faculty positions ask for.
  • Present at a student research symposium or join a conservation groupPresenting your work builds communication skills, and group involvement helps you network with mentors in the field.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on research experience early, such as lab or field work with a professor. Graduate programs and faculty jobs care a lot about this.
  • Practice teaching now by tutoring, leading study groups, or presenting in class, since college teaching jobs look for proof that you can explain science clearly.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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