Geo Jobs - Academic Jobs

Unlock Your Future in Geography: Thriving Academic Careers Await!

Geography faculty jobs merge physical sciences, social studies, and cutting-edge technology like GIS to address global challenges such as climate change and urbanization. Aspiring students can start with a bachelor's in geography, focusing on subfields like human geography or physical geography, then advance to master's programs emphasizing spatial analysis and fieldwork. Prestigious institutions like Clark University, home to the oldest U.S. geography department founded in 1921, offer rigorous training. Career paths for graduates include academia, environmental consulting, urban planning, and policy roles at agencies like the USGS.

Seasoned academics pursue professor jobs or lecturer positions, with tenure-track roles emphasizing research output. Trends show rising demand for GIS specialists, with 7% job growth projected through 2032 per BLS data. Fringe opportunities include planetary geography at NASA-affiliated programs or Antarctic field research at institutions like Ohio State. Parents and job seekers, discover tailored higher ed faculty jobs. Explore Higher Ed Jobs for current openings.

What to Study for Geography Academic Careers

Students targeting geography faculty jobs should prioritize interdisciplinary coursework. Core topics include cartography, geomorphology, and cultural geography. Certifications in ArcGIS boost employability. Top paths: BA/BS Geography → MA/MS → PhD, with theses on niche topics like coastal erosion in Louisiana deltas—a quirk where geography intersects disaster management.

Check scholarships for funding. Rate professors in your program via Rate My Professor to select mentors wisely.

Geography Faculty Job Opportunities and Trends

Tenure-track geography positions are competitive, with 1,200 annual U.S. openings per HigherEdJobs data. Adjunct and lecturer jobs abound at community colleges. Unique quirks: Dartmouth's geography program integrates indigenous mapping techniques, while UK roles via jobs.ac.uk emphasize historical geography. Postdocs in environmental geography are rising due to climate initiatives.

Browse lecturer jobs, adjunct professor jobs, and postdoc opportunities. Hot locations include Colorado (Boulder hires frequently) and California.

GIS Specialist Roles

High demand in tech-geography fusion.

Urban Geography Lectureships

Focus on smart cities.

Climate Research Posts

IPCC-linked projects.

Geography Professor Salaries and Earnings

Geography professors enjoy competitive pay, with medians reflecting location and rank. Northeast and West Coast command premiums due to high living costs.

Role	Average US Salary (2023)	Top Locations
Assistant Professor	$75,000 - $95,000	Massachusetts
Associate Professor	$90,000 - $115,000	California
Full Professor	$110,000 - $160,000+	New York

View full data at professor salaries. AAUP reports geography full professors averaged $112,000 in 2022-23.

Prestige Programs and Professor Ratings

Elite programs like UC Berkeley (pioneered cultural geography) and University of Wisconsin-Madison lead rankings. Quirky standout: Monash University in Australia (UniJobs) for geospatial AI.

Rate your Geography professor experiences to guide peers. Rate My Professor reveals teaching styles in GIS courses. Seek higher ed career advice for applications.

Associations for Geography

International Geographical Union
A global organization that promotes the study of geography and facilitates international collaboration among geographers.
Association of American Geographers
A professional organization dedicated to advancing geography and supporting geographers in the United States and internationally.
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
A UK-based learned society and professional body that advances geography and geographical learning.
Canadian Association of Geographers
An organization that promotes geographical research, education, and application in Canada.
Institute of Australian Geographers
A professional body representing geographers and promoting geographical research in Australia.
European Association of Geographers
An association focused on promoting geography education and research across Europe.
American Geographical Society
One of the oldest geographical organizations in the United States, dedicated to the advancement of geographical knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

📚What qualifications are needed for Geography faculty jobs? 📚

A PhD in Geography or related field is essential, plus publications in GIS or environmental studies. Fieldwork experience, like mapping urban sprawl, sets candidates apart. Check professor salaries for role insights.