by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Earth Science Teacher Education covers Earth Science Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Earth Science Programs At Various Educational Levels. Examples: [Geosciences Education]. Continue reading for the key facts every earth science teacher education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering earth science teacher education programs.
In the U.S., earth science teacher education is a widely-pursued major, with 180 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Earth Science Teacher Education Schools ranking analyzes these 32 schools to determine the best overall colleges for earth science teacher education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of earth science teacher education programs later in this article.
Studies in Earth Science Teacher Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations earth science teacher education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a earth science teacher education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a earth science teacher education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several earth science teacher education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 78 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 102 |
People currently working in careers related to earth science teacher education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 13.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in earth science teacher education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in earth science teacher education prepares you for a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to earth science teacher education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to earth science teacher education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 615,002 | 10.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of earth science teacher education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for earth science teacher education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers earth science teacher education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $72,801 |
With 32 different earth science teacher education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased earth science teacher education school rankings to help you.
Students interested in earth science teacher education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
