Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for an associate professor
Quoted expert
Douglas Milbauer
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like associate professors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for associate professors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for associate professors. We found that Oregon is the best state in the nation for associate professors, and people in Lancaster earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for associate professor jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that Oregon is the best state for associate professor jobs, whereas Wyoming is the worst.
10 best states for associate professors in 2026
1. Oregon
Total associate professor jobs: 348 Average annual salary: $120,285 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location Quotient: 1.69
2. New York
Total associate professor jobs: 1,323 Average annual salary: $114,044 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 2.08
3. Texas
Total associate professor jobs: 1,270 Average annual salary: $107,865 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
4. Louisiana
Total associate professor jobs: 199 Average annual salary: $107,100 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
5. California
Total associate professor jobs: 1,060 Average annual salary: $135,590 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
6. Alabama
Total associate professor jobs: 248 Average annual salary: $105,705 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
7. Utah
Total associate professor jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $111,514 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
8. Massachusetts
Total associate professor jobs: 339 Average annual salary: $114,423 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
9. Mississippi
Total associate professor jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $98,778 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
10. North Carolina
Total associate professor jobs: 465 Average annual salary: $102,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
Associate professor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an associate professor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an associate professor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $120,285 | $77,000 | 4,142,776 | 348 |
| 2 | New York | $114,044 | $65,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,323 |
| 3 | Texas | $107,865 | $60,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,270 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $107,100 | $58,000 | 4,684,333 | 199 |
| 5 | California | $135,590 | $84,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,060 |
| 6 | Alabama | $105,705 | $57,000 | 4,874,747 | 248 |
| 7 | Utah | $111,514 | $67,000 | 3,101,833 | 161 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $114,423 | $67,000 | 6,859,819 | 339 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $98,778 | $53,000 | 2,984,100 | 143 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $102,456 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 465 |
| 11 | Michigan | $101,932 | $57,000 | 9,962,311 | 310 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $100,301 | $57,000 | 1,920,076 | 118 |
| 13 | Idaho | $112,289 | $70,000 | 1,716,943 | 24 |
| 14 | Florida | $104,815 | $57,000 | 20,984,400 | 512 |
| 15 | Alaska | $99,309 | $72,000 | 739,795 | 91 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $101,831 | $60,000 | 5,576,606 | 245 |
| 17 | Georgia | $100,391 | $53,000 | 10,429,379 | 365 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $106,189 | $61,000 | 3,588,184 | 79 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $99,102 | $56,000 | 2,088,070 | 71 |
| 20 | Arizona | $102,456 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 111 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $98,218 | $53,000 | 3,004,279 | 56 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $95,061 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 186 |
| 23 | Colorado | $93,504 | $53,000 | 5,607,154 | 573 |
| 24 | Washington | $104,828 | $68,000 | 7,405,743 | 212 |
| 25 | Virginia | $92,404 | $49,000 | 8,470,020 | 918 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $90,819 | $49,000 | 12,805,537 | 633 |
| 27 | Maryland | $96,225 | $52,000 | 6,052,177 | 361 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $93,779 | $51,000 | 9,005,644 | 458 |
| 29 | Iowa | $88,438 | $49,000 | 3,145,711 | 197 |
| 30 | Indiana | $85,303 | $45,000 | 6,666,818 | 449 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $86,818 | $44,000 | 5,024,369 | 276 |
| 32 | Montana | $83,589 | $54,000 | 1,050,493 | 81 |
| 33 | Missouri | $91,550 | $50,000 | 6,113,532 | 209 |
| 34 | Ohio | $88,352 | $47,000 | 11,658,609 | 376 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $90,257 | $47,000 | 6,715,984 | 162 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $90,960 | $49,000 | 3,930,864 | 66 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $88,185 | $50,000 | 1,059,639 | 53 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $82,591 | $48,000 | 869,666 | 62 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $81,651 | $42,000 | 4,454,189 | 252 |
| 40 | Nevada | $92,806 | $54,000 | 2,998,039 | 23 |
| 41 | Vermont | $83,158 | $48,000 | 623,657 | 61 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $88,160 | $55,000 | 755,393 | 19 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $88,696 | $51,000 | 1,342,795 | 42 |
| 44 | Delaware | $88,777 | $47,000 | 961,939 | 32 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $79,686 | $43,000 | 5,795,483 | 262 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $58,384 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 145 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $87,013 | $58,000 | 1,427,538 | 9 |
| 48 | Kansas | $82,176 | $44,000 | 2,913,123 | 72 |
| 49 | Maine | $78,146 | $45,000 | 1,335,907 | 46 |
| 50 | Illinois | $79,332 | $42,000 | 12,802,023 | 398 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $75,665 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 16 |
Highest paying states for associate professors
| Rank | State | Avg. Associate Professor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $120,285 |
| 2 | New York | $114,044 |
| 3 | Texas | $107,865 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $107,100 |
| 5 | California | $135,590 |
| 6 | Alabama | $105,705 |
| 7 | Utah | $111,514 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $114,423 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $98,778 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $102,456 |
| 11 | Michigan | $101,932 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $100,301 |
| 13 | Idaho | $112,289 |
| 14 | Florida | $104,815 |
| 15 | Alaska | $99,309 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $101,831 |
| 17 | Georgia | $100,391 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $106,189 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $99,102 |
| 20 | Arizona | $102,456 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $98,218 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $95,061 |
| 23 | Colorado | $93,504 |
| 24 | Washington | $104,828 |
| 25 | Virginia | $92,404 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $90,819 |
| 27 | Maryland | $96,225 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $93,779 |
| 29 | Iowa | $88,438 |
| 30 | Indiana | $85,303 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $86,818 |
| 32 | Montana | $83,589 |
| 33 | Missouri | $91,550 |
| 34 | Ohio | $88,352 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $90,257 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $90,960 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $88,185 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $82,591 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $81,651 |
| 40 | Nevada | $92,806 |
| 41 | Vermont | $83,158 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $88,160 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $88,696 |
| 44 | Delaware | $88,777 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $79,686 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $58,384 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $87,013 |
| 48 | Kansas | $82,176 |
| 49 | Maine | $78,146 |
| 50 | Illinois | $79,332 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $75,665 |
Expert opinions on the best states for associate professors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for associate professors to find work opportunities?
Douglas Milbauer
Lecturer, Stephen F. Austin State University
Are we talking about graduates in the near term? There are shifts taking place due to COVID, such as loss of jobs due to businesses closing. But there will be other opportunities that arise from this creative destruction. And when you say "places," are you asking about geography or industry sectors? I am not sure that geography will be a factor, and it may become less a factor, since everyone is learning how to manage their business remotely. There will continue to be marketing opportunities, especially for those who can quickly grasp and apply new technologies to the marketing mix.
Associate professor best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for associate professor jobs
Updated January 8, 2025