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The average salary for faculty members varies across different states and institutions. As of October 2025, the average faculty salary is $80,405 per year. However, this number can shift based on numerous factors such as geographical location, specific academic discipline, and years of experience.
States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for quality education. In addition, urban areas tend to provide better compensation compared to rural locations. Faculty members with specialized skills or those in high-demand fields, such as STEM, may also command higher salaries.
Experience plays a critical role in salary determination. Entry-level faculty typically earn less than their more experienced counterparts. Over time, faculty can expect their salaries to increase, reflecting their contributions and expertise.
For those considering a career in academia, understanding the dynamics of faculty salaries is essential. By evaluating potential earnings based on location, experience, and discipline, candidates can make informed decisions that align with their career aspirations.
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The highest-paying states for faculties are California, New Jersey, and New York. The lowest average faculty salary states are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Minnesota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $113,395 | $54.52 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $106,855 | $51.37 |
| 3 | New York | $98,549 | $47.38 |
| 4 | Oregon | $83,180 | $39.99 |
| 5 | California | $108,622 | $52.22 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $83,962 | $40.37 |
| 7 | Alabama | $82,192 | $39.52 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $79,402 | $38.17 |
| 9 | Virginia | $77,790 | $37.40 |
| 10 | Michigan | $80,857 | $38.87 |
| 11 | Vermont | $78,196 | $37.59 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $84,581 | $40.66 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $92,720 | $44.58 |
| 14 | Kansas | $85,958 | $41.33 |
| 15 | Ohio | $73,931 | $35.54 |
| 16 | Maryland | $77,338 | $37.18 |
| 17 | Montana | $68,020 | $32.70 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $69,358 | $33.35 |
| 19 | Alaska | $64,551 | $31.03 |
| 20 | Missouri | $71,710 | $34.48 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $71,614 | $34.43 |
| 22 | Indiana | $62,991 | $30.28 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $74,518 | $35.83 |
| 24 | Idaho | $75,913 | $36.50 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $72,460 | $34.84 |
| 26 | Arizona | $71,773 | $34.51 |
| 27 | Maine | $68,790 | $33.07 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $64,381 | $30.95 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $58,006 | $27.89 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $59,946 | $28.82 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $63,413 | $30.49 |
| 32 | Washington | $70,210 | $33.75 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $77,826 | $37.42 |
| 34 | Iowa | $59,906 | $28.80 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $63,718 | $30.63 |
| 36 | Utah | $59,008 | $28.37 |
| 37 | Florida | $63,791 | $30.67 |
| 38 | Colorado | $54,978 | $26.43 |
| 39 | Georgia | $59,931 | $28.81 |
| 40 | Illinois | $61,686 | $29.66 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $49,979 | $24.03 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $49,158 | $23.63 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $55,020 | $26.45 |
| 45 | Nevada | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| 46 | Texas | $44,094 | $21.20 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $47,642 | $22.90 |
| 48 | Delaware | $55,585 | $26.72 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $51,342 | $24.68 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $41,134 | $19.78 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $44,999 | $21.63 |
The highest-paying cities for faculties are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $120,063 | $57.72 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $118,836 | $57.13 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $100,690 | $48.41 |
| 4 | Springfield, MA | $85,198 | $40.96 |
| 5 | Albany, OR | $83,737 | $40.26 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $81,859 | $39.36 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,490 | $38.70 |
| 8 | Virginia Beach, VA | $79,216 | $38.08 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $77,631 | $37.32 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $73,159 | $35.17 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $72,355 | $34.79 |
| 12 | Columbia, MO | $72,035 | $34.63 |
| 13 | Bellingham, WA | $70,432 | $33.86 |
| 14 | Bozeman, MT | $67,832 | $32.61 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $64,560 | $31.04 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $62,437 | $30.02 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $62,119 | $29.86 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| 19 | Columbia, SC | $59,867 | $28.78 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $59,297 | $28.51 |
Faculties are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A faculty's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $152,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $152,000 | $12,667 | $73 |
| 75th Percentile | $112,000 | $9,333 | $54 |
| Average | $80,405 | $6,700 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
The highest paying types of faculties are professor, visiting professor, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
| Visiting Professor | $116,217 | $9,685 | $55.87 | 27,139 |
| Social Studies Teacher | $49,725 | $4,144 | $23.91 | 94,087 |
| College Instructor | $50,584 | $4,215 | $24.32 | 41,053 |
| Adjunct Professor | $98,821 | $8,235 | $47.51 | 22,488 |
| Course Instructor | $49,389 | $4,116 | $23.74 | 28,255 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for facultys, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David McMahan Ph.D.
Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College
Faculty salaries at School of Visual Concepts and Providence Health & Services are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average faculty salary at companies like Dignity Health and Piedmont Healthcare are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School of Visual Concepts | $270,125 | $129.87 |
| 2 | Providence Health & Services | $258,633 | $124.34 |
| 3 | Dignity Health | $253,846 | $122.04 |
| 4 | Piedmont Healthcare | $252,139 | $121.22 |
| 5 | Beaumont Health | $236,109 | $113.51 |
| 6 | OSF HealthCare | $234,941 | $112.95 |
| 7 | Mercy Health | $218,762 | $105.17 |
| 8 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $213,350 | $102.57 |
| 9 | Connecticut Children's Medical Center | $210,726 | $101.31 |
| 10 | CHRISTUS Health | $209,497 | $100.72 |
| 11 | AdventHealth | $203,173 | $97.68 |
| 12 | Baptist Health | $199,583 | $95.95 |
| 13 | Ardent Health Services | $195,688 | $94.08 |
| 14 | UnityPoint Health | $192,537 | $92.57 |
| 15 | Geisinger Medical Center | $192,125 | $92.37 |
| 16 | NYU Lutheran Medical Center | $188,928 | $90.83 |
| 17 | Trinity Health | $186,301 | $89.57 |
| 18 | Lakeland Regional Health | $184,214 | $88.56 |
| 19 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $183,578 | $88.26 |
| 20 | St. Francis Medical Center | $183,239 | $88.10 |
The average faculty salary has risen by $8,537 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average faculty earned $71,868 annually, but today, they earn $80,405 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for faculties over the last decade.
Compare faculty salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare faculty salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $80,400 | $38.66 | +4.1% |
| 2025 | $77,100 | $37.06 | +4.8% |
| 2024 | $73,400 | $35.28 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $72,100 | $34.64 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $72,000 | $34.60 | +2.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Welding Faculty | North Little Rock, AR | 06/30/2025 | $42,000 |
| Nu Technology | Faculty, Electrical and Computer Engineering | San Diego, CA | 06/30/2025 | $55,577 |
| Nu Technology | Faculty, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics | Yuma, AZ | 06/30/2025 | $55,577 |
| Northwest Arkansas Community College | Faculty, Certified Retail Analyst (CRA) | Benton, AR | 06/30/2025 | $29,700 |
| Minnesota State | Accounting Faculty | Rochester, NY | 06/30/2025 | $43,067 |
| Westcliff University | Faculty-College of Business | Ione, CA | 06/30/2025 | $70,000 |
| Palo Alto University | Faculty-Non-Tenure Track (Scholar Educator) | Palo Alto, CA | 06/29/2025 | $114,000 |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Tenure-Track Faculty History of ART: African Diasporas, Indigenous Peoples of The Americas, Islamic | Boston, MA | 06/29/2025 | $66,000 |
| Adtalem Global Education Inc. | Fundamentals Clinical Faculty | Columbia, SC | 06/28/2025 | $58,436 |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | Faculty Open Rank (NON-Tenure Track)-Restorative Dentistry-College of Dentistry | Chicago, IL | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
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