by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Geography Teacher Education explores Geography Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Geography At Various Grade Levels. Continue reading for the important information every geography teacher education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering geography teacher education programs.
Our 2026 Best Geography Teacher Education Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for geography teacher education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of geography teacher education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Geography Teacher Education build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations geography teacher education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a geography teacher education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a geography teacher education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
People currently working in careers related to geography teacher education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 51.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.3% |
| Master’s degree | 6.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in geography teacher education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying geography teacher education can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to geography teacher education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to geography 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% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | 420,756 | -3.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of geography teacher education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 geography teacher education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers geography 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 |
| Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,034 |
With 10 different geography teacher education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased geography teacher education school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in geography 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.
