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The average salary for a geography teacher in the United States is approximately $60,469 per year, translating to around $29 per hour. This salary can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific school district. For instance, geography teachers in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries compared to those in less populated areas.
Geography teachers can find higher-paying opportunities in urban school districts or specialized programs. Additionally, teachers with advanced degrees or certifications may command higher salaries. Engaging in continuous professional development and networking can also lead to better-paying positions.
Over the years, the demand for qualified geography teachers has remained steady, with salaries gradually increasing. Factors influencing this trend include rising educational standards and an emphasis on geography in the curriculum. As more schools prioritize geography education, opportunities for teachers in this field are expected to grow.
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The average geography teacher salary in New York, California, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average geography teacher salary states are Alabama, Kansas, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $80,970 | $38.93 |
| 2 | Illinois | $77,726 | $37.37 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $86,196 | $41.44 |
| 4 | Nevada | $72,669 | $34.94 |
| 5 | New York | $87,031 | $41.84 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $73,511 | $35.34 |
| 7 | Delaware | $77,824 | $37.42 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $85,782 | $41.24 |
| 9 | California | $86,565 | $41.62 |
| 10 | Washington | $79,791 | $38.36 |
| 11 | Maryland | $70,063 | $33.68 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $72,004 | $34.62 |
| 13 | Vermont | $76,166 | $36.62 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $62,806 | $30.20 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $73,637 | $35.40 |
| 16 | Ohio | $66,759 | $32.10 |
| 17 | Oregon | $72,336 | $34.78 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $60,382 | $29.03 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $70,937 | $34.10 |
| 20 | Virginia | $64,949 | $31.23 |
| 21 | Michigan | $57,086 | $27.45 |
| 22 | Alaska | $75,281 | $36.19 |
| 23 | Utah | $66,540 | $31.99 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $64,964 | $31.23 |
| 25 | Iowa | $59,050 | $28.39 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $65,129 | $31.31 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $56,743 | $27.28 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $54,926 | $26.41 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $53,344 | $25.65 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $54,615 | $26.26 |
| 31 | Indiana | $55,052 | $26.47 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $53,660 | $25.80 |
| 33 | Florida | $54,202 | $26.06 |
| 34 | Texas | $53,424 | $25.68 |
| 35 | Colorado | $54,075 | $26.00 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $52,727 | $25.35 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $55,155 | $26.52 |
| 38 | Georgia | $52,688 | $25.33 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $53,592 | $25.77 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $53,912 | $25.92 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $52,981 | $25.47 |
| 42 | Missouri | $51,774 | $24.89 |
| 43 | Montana | $46,637 | $22.42 |
| 44 | Kansas | $48,844 | $23.48 |
| 45 | Maine | $52,835 | $25.40 |
| 46 | Idaho | $50,935 | $24.49 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $55,160 | $26.52 |
| 48 | Alabama | $49,461 | $23.78 |
| 49 | Arizona | $42,865 | $20.61 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $45,343 | $21.80 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $44,126 | $21.21 |
The highest-paying cities for geography teachers are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $98,021 | $47.13 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $87,350 | $42.00 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $78,404 | $37.69 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $74,911 | $36.01 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $71,591 | $34.42 |
| 6 | College Park, MD | $69,965 | $33.64 |
| 7 | Grand Forks, ND | $65,340 | $31.41 |
| 8 | Chesapeake, VA | $64,150 | $30.84 |
| 9 | Mankato, MN | $59,991 | $28.84 |
| 10 | Knoxville, TN | $55,915 | $26.88 |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $55,195 | $26.54 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $55,062 | $26.47 |
| 13 | San Marcos, TX | $53,400 | $25.67 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $53,256 | $25.60 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $52,747 | $25.36 |
| 16 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $49,232 | $23.67 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $43,108 | $20.73 |
A geography teacher's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $85,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| Average | $60,469 | $5,039 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
The highest paying types of geography teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and history teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science Instructor | $48,925 | $4,077 | $23.52 | 40,936 |
| Math And Science Teacher | $46,589 | $3,882 | $22.40 | 71,273 |
| Social Studies Teacher | $49,725 | $4,144 | $23.91 | 94,087 |
| High School Teacher | $52,441 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 83,554 |
| High School English Teacher | $50,369 | $4,197 | $24.22 | 71,673 |
| Language Arts Teacher | $51,969 | $4,331 | $24.99 | 88,551 |
Geography teacher salaries at University of Hawaii Foundation and UMiami Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average geography teacher salary at companies like California State University, Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Hawaii Foundation | $85,135 | $40.93 |
| 2 | UMiami Health System | $83,432 | $40.11 |
| 3 | California State University, Fullerton | $80,353 | $38.63 |
| 4 | UC Santa Barbara | $73,582 | $35.38 |
| 5 | Florida International University | $69,850 | $33.58 |
| 6 | University of North Dakota | $65,518 | $31.50 |
| 7 | Lycée Français de Chicago | $65,284 | $31.39 |
| 8 | The University System of Maryland Foundation | $64,891 | $31.20 |
| 9 | State University of New York College at Cortland | $63,968 | $30.75 |
| 10 | Georgia State University | $61,757 | $29.69 |
| 11 | UW-La Crosse | $60,228 | $28.96 |
| 12 | The University of Alabama | $59,404 | $28.56 |
| 13 | University of Tennessee | $57,677 | $27.73 |
| 14 | University of Alaska | $55,234 | $26.55 |
| 15 | French American International School | $54,497 | $26.20 |
| 16 | Dallas International School | $53,821 | $25.88 |
| 17 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $52,804 | $25.39 |
| 18 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | $52,651 | $25.31 |
| 19 | University of Arizona Foundation | $52,409 | $25.20 |
| 20 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | $51,266 | $24.65 |
The average geography teacher salary has risen by $8,272 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average geography teacher earned $52,197 annually, but today, they earn $60,469 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for geography teachers over the last decade.
Compare geography teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare geography teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $60,500 | $29.07 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $59,300 | $28.51 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $58,000 | $27.89 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $56,900 | $27.36 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $55,800 | $26.83 | +1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idea Public Schools | AP Human Geography Teacher-Idea Alamo College Prep) | Alamo, TX | 06/27/2025 | $56,500 |
| Idea Public Schools | 10Th Grade Human Geography Teacher-Idea Victory College Prep) | Tampa, FL | 05/26/2025 | $48,500 |
| The International School of San Francisco | French History & Geography Teacher-Upper School-Starts October 2025-Temporary | San Francisco, CA | 04/26/2025 | $66,404 |
| Privatedetective Basingstoke | Geography Teacher | Hampshire, IL | 02/18/2025 | $39,403 |
| Private Investigator Loughton | Geography Teacher | Essex, MD | 02/17/2025 | $45,573 |
| Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Ltd. | Geography Teacher | Waldorf, MD | 02/17/2025 | $82,000 |
| Privateinvestigators Bexley | Geography Teacher | Essex, MD | 02/17/2025 | $45,573 |
| Frostburg State University | Geography Teacher-Post Secondary | Frostburg, MD | 02/14/2025 | $75,526 |
| Idea Public Schools | AP Human Geography Teacher-Idea Rundberg College Prep (Immediate Opening) | Austin, TX | 02/14/2025 | $58,500 |
| Idea Public Schools | AP Human Geography Teacher-Idea Converse College Prep (Immediate Opening) | Converse, TX | 01/14/2025 | $58,500 |
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