Career comparison
Biology Professor vs. Environmental Science Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Environmental science professors earn more at the median ($94,980 vs. $84,620), while environmental science professors usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). Biology professors teach life sciences and lead biology research at the college level. Environmental science professors teach how people and the environment interact, and how to protect it.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Biology Professor | Environmental Science Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $84,620 | $94,980 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $52,150 – $169,900 | $57,780 – $164,190 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.3% (much faster than average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 4,700 | 600 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 6–9 years after a bachelor’s | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in biology | Ph.D. in environmental science |
| Work setting | Biology faculty work in classrooms, labs, field sites and offices.. | Faculty work in classrooms, labs and field sites.. |
What each job does
Biology Professor
- Teach biology courses
- Run teaching labs
- Lead a research lab
- Mentor student researchers
- Write grant proposals
Environmental Science Professor
- Teach environmental science courses
- Lead field sampling labs
- Conduct research
- Partner with communities and agencies
- Mentor students
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, working independently, working with people, and high-pay. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose biology professor if…
- I love biology
- I want to run a lab
- I enjoy teaching
Choose environmental science professor if…
- I care about the environment
- I like field research
- I enjoy teaching
Still torn? Take the Biology Professor fit quiz and the Environmental Science Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, biology professor or environmental science professor?
Environmental Science Professors earn more at the median: $94,980 versus $84,620 for biology professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Environmental Science Professors typically train faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s) than biology professors (6–9 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects biology professors to grow +7.3% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for environmental science professors.