Course prep runs from writing syllabi and homework assignments to compiling and grading exams, and much of the semester goes to evaluating lab work, papers, and assignments alongside lecturing itself. Professors are also expected to stay current in a fast-moving field by reading new research, talking with colleagues, and attending conferences, then use that knowledge to revise curricula and course materials over time. The work is indoor and classroom-based, structured around the academic calendar but with real day-to-day independent judgment in how a course gets run. A PhD is required for nearly all positions, and pay ranges from about $58,000 to over $164,000.
Pros
High upside earning potential, up to $164k, above most postsecondary teaching fields
Subject matter tied to a growing, policy-relevant field with steady public interest
Collaborative environment working alongside colleagues on shared teaching and curriculum issues
Cons
Above-average hours, expect more than a standard 40-hour work week
Only about 700 positions nationwide, a fairly narrow academic specialty
Requires a PhD, a long and often low-paid path through graduate school
A typical day
The 10 a.m. lecture covers watershed hydrology, built around a local river dataset the professor collected with last year's class. After office hours comes lab prep: setting up soil columns so the afternoon section can measure infiltration themselves rather than read about it. A grad student stops by to review thesis data on urban heat islands, and the professor spends an hour on a grant renewal that keeps the field station funded. Some weeks include a field course day — a van of undergraduates, waders, and sampling gear — which is the part of the job most professors say they took it for.
Tasks at the job
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting.
There's a regular, moderate amount of time pressure, and you're expected to exercise significant independent judgment day to day. The work is highly structured, following set procedures.
Education necessary or common
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the relevant field
Common college majors
Environmental ScienceEcologyEarth Science (then a PhD)
Licenses & certifications
PhD in environmental science or a related field (the required credential)