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Geography Professor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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$18.5K

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How much do geography professor jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for geography professor in the United States is $63,181.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,000.00 and $71,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Geography Professor Do?

As a geography professor, your job is to teach geography classes at a college or university. In this role, you may help students learn more about the different types of geography within the country, help write a curriculum, and adjust lesson plans based on the unique learning needs of each student. Geography professors often participate in school activities and events, and you may personally oversee the education of graduate students or the daily work of assistant professors. You may also perform research when not teaching classes. Fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of this job sometimes involves writing books, recording videos, or providing input for news companies looking for expert explanations of recent geographic events.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Geography Professor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Geography Professor, you need an advanced degree in geography or a related field, a strong research background, and expertise in both physical and human geography. Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), statistical software, and academic publishing platforms is typically required. Excellent communication, mentorship, and critical thinking skills help engage students and foster a collaborative learning environment. These competencies ensure effective teaching, impactful research, and meaningful contributions to the academic community.

What are some common challenges Geography Professors face when balancing research and teaching responsibilities?

Geography Professors often juggle multiple responsibilities, including designing and delivering engaging lectures, mentoring students, and conducting original research. One common challenge is finding time to pursue research projects and secure funding while meeting teaching obligations and departmental service commitments. Effective time management and collaboration with colleagues can help, but it’s important to set realistic goals and communicate openly with department leadership about workload. Universities typically offer support through research grants, teaching assistants, and sabbaticals to help manage these demands.

What is the difference between Geography Professor vs Geography Teacher?

AspectGeography ProfessorGeography Teacher
Required CredentialsDoctorate or Master’s degree in Geography or related fieldBachelor’s degree or teaching certification in Geography
Work EnvironmentColleges and universities, research settingsHigh schools, middle schools, or community education programs
Employer & Industry UsageHigher education institutions, academic researchSecondary education institutions, public or private schools
Common Search & Comparison IntentAcademic career, research opportunitiesClassroom teaching, student engagement

While both Geography Professors and Geography Teachers work in educational settings related to geography, Professors typically hold advanced degrees and teach at the college level, focusing on research and higher education. Teachers usually have a bachelor's degree and teaching certification, working in primary or secondary schools to instruct students directly. The roles differ mainly in educational level, credentials, and work environment, but both contribute to geography education.

What cities are hiring for Geography Professor jobs? Cities with the most Geography Professor job openings:
What states have the most Geography Professor jobs? States with the most job openings for Geography Professor jobs include:
Infographic showing various Geography Professor job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 92% Physical, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,181 per year, or $30.4 per hour.
Teaching Professor in Geography

Teaching Professor in Geography

Towson University

Campus, IL

$53K - $55K/yr

Other

Medical, Life, Retirement

Posted 3 days ago


Towson University rating

7.1

Company rating: 7.1 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

342nd of 529 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Assistant Teaching Professor, Human and/or Physical Geography

Department of Geography and Environmental Planning College of Liberal Arts

CLA-3925

Towson University:

Towson University (TU) is one of the nation's top 100 public universities. Located north of Baltimore, TU currently enrolls over 19,000 students and is the second-largest university in the prestigious University System of Maryland. Towson University fosters a climate that is grounded in respect to cultivate the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.

Position:

The College of Liberal Arts invites application for a non-tenure track, 9-month Assistant Teaching Professor position in the Department of Geography. Preferred start date, August 2026.

Qualifications:

PhD or ABD in Geography, strong commitment to excellence in teaching, demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diversity of TU students, faculty, staff, and community.

Responsibilities:

Teach four courses per semester, primarily Introduction to Physical Geography and/or Introduction to Human Geography. Duties could include one upper division course in the spring within the Department's offerings matching the candidate's expertise. Assistant Teaching Professors are responsible for preparing syllabi, lecturing, maintaining course records, evaluating student performance, and holding regular weekly office hours to meet with students. In addition, assistant teaching professors are expected to attend faculty meetings and participate in activities for the promotion of the Department of Geography and Environmental Planning.

Application Process:

Review of applications begins on June 15, 2026 and continues until the position is filled.

Click here to apply. Please note that the search number for which you are applying is CLA-3925.

Please be sure to visit the Applicant Data Form to complete a voluntary on-line form. All data collected are for internal, state, and/or federal reporting and will not be used for other purposes.

Salary and Benefits:

Targeted salary range: $53,000 - $55,000.

Benefits: TU offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent health, life and retirement plans; and tuition remission. To learn more about our benefits, click here for regular faculty/teaching professor or here for contingent teaching professor. TU also offers a variety of great perks and discounts, which can be found here.

Background Check: A Criminal Background Investigation is required for the hired candidate and the results may impact employment.

COVID-19 Statement: The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors has been our top priority and the focus of every one of our decisions since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the University System of Maryland (USM) has strongly encouraged full COVID vaccination and up to-date booster shots (when eligible) for all faculty, staff, and students at all schools in the USM as both a reasonable and necessary means of protecting our health and safety.


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