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The average salary for a faculty member is approximately $102,849 per year, translating to about $49 per hour. However, salaries can fluctuate significantly based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific field of academia. For instance, faculty members in high-demand subjects, such as STEM fields, often earn more than those in humanities.
Salaries also vary by state. For example, faculty members in states like California and New York typically command higher salaries due to the higher cost of living. On the other hand, states with a lower cost of living may offer lower salaries, but the overall quality of life can still be attractive.
In addition to location, experience plays a significant role in salary determination. Entry-level positions may start lower, but with advanced degrees and years of service, faculty members can see substantial increases in their earnings. Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers navigate their career paths and make informed decisions.
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The highest-paying states for faculty members are Hawaii, Ohio, and Oregon. The lowest average faculty member salary states are Illinois, Wyoming, and Kentucky.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $120,594 | $57.98 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $131,888 | $63.41 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $118,306 | $56.88 |
| 4 | Ohio | $120,932 | $58.14 |
| 5 | Washington | $108,078 | $51.96 |
| 6 | Alaska | $104,325 | $50.16 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $110,794 | $53.27 |
| 8 | Florida | $114,293 | $54.95 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $109,425 | $52.61 |
| 10 | Utah | $106,746 | $51.32 |
| 11 | Texas | $102,626 | $49.34 |
| 12 | Missouri | $105,928 | $50.93 |
| 13 | Nevada | $112,733 | $54.20 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $102,712 | $49.38 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $100,288 | $48.22 |
| 16 | California | $118,347 | $56.90 |
| 17 | Delaware | $100,067 | $48.11 |
| 18 | Iowa | $102,036 | $49.06 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $99,130 | $47.66 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $105,451 | $50.70 |
| 21 | New York | $101,507 | $48.80 |
| 22 | Vermont | $94,591 | $45.48 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $94,842 | $45.60 |
| 24 | Maryland | $101,953 | $49.02 |
| 25 | Indiana | $91,795 | $44.13 |
| 26 | Virginia | $94,937 | $45.64 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $104,406 | $50.20 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $102,844 | $49.44 |
| 29 | Georgia | $96,333 | $46.31 |
| 30 | Colorado | $89,498 | $43.03 |
| 31 | Arizona | $96,398 | $46.35 |
| 32 | Alabama | $85,842 | $41.27 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $89,966 | $43.25 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $78,335 | $37.66 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $83,963 | $40.37 |
| 36 | Maine | $76,036 | $36.56 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $75,866 | $36.47 |
| 38 | Michigan | $79,895 | $38.41 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $71,179 | $34.22 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $83,341 | $40.07 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $76,295 | $36.68 |
| 43 | Montana | $65,594 | $31.54 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $62,637 | $30.11 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $77,071 | $37.05 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $78,209 | $37.60 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $62,435 | $30.02 |
| 48 | Illinois | $73,949 | $35.55 |
| 49 | Kansas | $74,630 | $35.88 |
| 50 | Idaho | $74,709 | $35.92 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $72,370 | $34.79 |
The highest-paying cities for faculty members are Youngstown, OH, San Francisco, CA, and Tampa, FL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youngstown, OH | $130,070 | $62.53 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $123,807 | $59.52 |
| 3 | Tampa, FL | $121,071 | $58.21 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $110,985 | $53.36 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $109,189 | $52.49 |
| 6 | Saint Louis, MO | $109,114 | $52.46 |
| 7 | Provo, UT | $107,086 | $51.48 |
| 8 | Abilene, TX | $104,607 | $50.29 |
| 9 | Iowa City, IA | $103,838 | $49.92 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $103,652 | $49.83 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $103,526 | $49.77 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $102,683 | $49.37 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $97,579 | $46.91 |
| 14 | Arlington, VA | $95,823 | $46.07 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $87,558 | $42.10 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | $80,546 | $38.72 |
| 17 | Little Rock, AR | $77,620 | $37.32 |
| 18 | Portland, ME | $76,521 | $36.79 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $74,432 | $35.78 |
| 20 | Lawrence, KS | $74,360 | $35.75 |
A faculty member's salary ranges from $57,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $185,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $185,000 | $15,417 | $89 |
| 75th Percentile | $140,000 | $11,667 | $67 |
| Average | $102,849 | $8,571 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| 10th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
The highest paying types of faculty members are professor, visiting professor, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health And Physical Education Teacher | $47,140 | $3,928 | $22.66 | 156,643 |
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
| College Instructor | $50,584 | $4,215 | $24.32 | 41,053 |
| Medical Instructor | $58,118 | $4,843 | $27.94 | 80,589 |
| Nutrition Educator | $34,652 | $2,888 | $16.66 | 8,649 |
| Course Instructor | $49,389 | $4,116 | $23.74 | 28,255 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for faculty members, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David McMahan Ph.D.
Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College
Faculty member salaries at Southeastern Lifestyle Fitness Center Lumberton and Bon Secours Community Hospital are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average faculty member salary at companies like St Joseph Medical Group and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southeastern Lifestyle Fitness Center Lumberton | $218,975 | $105.28 |
| 2 | Bon Secours Community Hospital | $211,598 | $101.73 |
| 3 | St Joseph Medical Group | $210,055 | $100.99 |
| 4 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $195,723 | $94.10 |
| 5 | Emory Healthcare | $188,998 | $90.86 |
| 6 | The University of Kansas Health System | $186,865 | $89.84 |
| 7 | Moffitt Cancer Center | $186,275 | $89.56 |
| 8 | WellSpan Health | $169,846 | $81.66 |
| 9 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | $163,553 | $78.63 |
| 10 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | $150,972 | $72.58 |
| 11 | Johns Hopkins University | $146,800 | $70.58 |
| 12 | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | $146,668 | $70.51 |
| 13 | Emory University | $145,785 | $70.09 |
| 14 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $141,765 | $68.16 |
| 15 | Saint John’s Cancer Institute | $141,418 | $67.99 |
| 16 | Palo Alto University | $132,326 | $63.62 |
| 17 | National Medical Association | $130,590 | $62.78 |
| 18 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $125,969 | $60.56 |
| 19 | Fairview Hospital / Cleveland Clinic | $121,011 | $58.18 |
| 20 | The University of New Mexico | $114,216 | $54.91 |
The average faculty member salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $143,955 | $69.21 |
| 2 | Professional | $116,675 | $56.09 |
| 3 | Media | $108,720 | $52.27 |
| 4 | Government | $105,004 | $50.48 |
| 5 | Education | $84,787 | $40.76 |
| 6 | Non Profits | $82,073 | $39.46 |
The average faculty member salary has risen by $19,959 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average faculty member earned $82,890 annually, but today, they earn $102,849 a year. That works out to a 0% change in pay for faculty members over the last decade.
Compare faculty member salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare faculty member salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $103,000 | $49.45 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $101,000 | $48.56 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | $101,000 | $48.59 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | $102,000 | $48.84 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | $103,000 | $49.58 | +8.6% |
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