How much does a environment professor make?
Answer: A typical environment professor in the United States makes $94,980 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 7,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Environment professor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $57,780 | $94,980 | $164,190 | about 7,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $102,640 | about 610 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and qualifications can affect pay, and universities often pay more than community colleges. Location and whether a professor works full time or part time also matter.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a environment professor do?
Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. Excludes “Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary” (25-1043).
What's a typical day like?
They plan lessons, teach environmental topics, and grade papers or lab work. They may advise students during office hours, supervise lab or fieldwork, and work on research—so a day can move from a classroom to an outdoor study site.
How to get this job
U.S. environment professors usually earn a bachelor's in environmental science or a related field, then a Ph.D.; a master's may qualify for some community-college jobs. Doctoral students conduct original research; requirements vary by school and role.
Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)
Good for people who like figuring things out and helping and teaching.
Did you know?
Some U.S. environmental science professors take undergraduates to Svalbard in the High Arctic to do climate-change research—not just study it in class.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Educational Instruction and Library jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1053.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes251053.htm
- www.hampshire.edu/academics/faculty/steven-roof
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY