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Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

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 called: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Astronomy Professor, Atmospheric Sciences Professor, Geology Professor, Instructor

Median pay in Greater Boston
$124,440
Jobs in Greater Boston
320
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+6.3%
30 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Doctoral or professional degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$66,840$83,430$124,440$186,320$217,460

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure82 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 87
  • Language-model AIOE 96
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 64

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for earth and space science teachers is in the higher range, and observed AI use is at some level. AI tools can help with grading, exams, record keeping, and lecture prep. Leading field work, supervising labs, and guiding students in person are parts of the job that AI tools do not do.

Likely to change

  • Grading papers and building exams
  • Keeping attendance and grade records

Still relies on people

  • Supervising field work and lab work
  • Mentoring students in person

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

21 programs near Boston (plus 27 graduate)

Related occupations

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