What is a Professor?

Q: Do you need a Ph.D. to be a professor?

Yes, you do need a Ph.D. to be a professor. While some colleges and universities may not require a Ph.D. to be a professor, the minimum requirement for the position is typically at least to pursue a Ph.D. in their field.

Professors are key academic staff at colleges and universities. They develop in-depth familiarity with their material over extensive years of specialized education and share their knowledge in lectures they prepare, using appropriate textbooks, and keeping up to date with current trends and developments of the topic.

Apart from teaching, they conduct research as well, probing questions that have not been sufficiently dealt with in their area of expertise. They read articles and attend conferences to keep up with the work of fellow researchers and publish their findings and polemics with current results in academic journals.

Providing services at their department is also an important part of their job, such as evaluating students, organizing conferences, writing proposals for grants, and editing journals. They assist with creating course material and supervising postgraduate students as well. Being a professor is a coveted position for many who are attracted to academia. The competition is fierce, and you need a good amount of passion and dedication to rise to this beautiful and fulfilling role.

What Does a Professor Do

There are certain skills that many professors have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed interpersonal skills, speaking skills and writing skills.

Learn more about what a Professor does

How To Become a Professor

If you're interested in becoming a professor, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 52.0% of professors have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 24.9% of professors have master's degrees. Even though most professors have a college degree, it's impossible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

Learn More About How To Become a Professor

Top Professor Jobs Near You

Professor Career Paths

As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a professor can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as consultant, progress to a title such as project manager and then eventually end up with the title project director.

Average Salary for a Professor

Professors in America make an average salary of $157,570 per year or $76 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $280,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $88,000 per year.

Average Professor Salary

$157,570 Yearly

$75.75 hourly

$88,00010%

$157,000Median

$280,00090%

See More Salary Information

What Am I Worth?

Roles and Types of Professor

The role of a professor includes a wide range of responsibilities. These responsibilities can vary based on an individual's specific job, company, or industry.Here are some general professor responsibilities:

Staff inpatient housestaff teaching service with learners including medical students, interns, residents
Possess a strong dedication to clinical activities, as they relate to an individual's areas of expertise
The department of diabetic complication metabolism at city of hope

There are several types of professor, including:

Adjunct Professor

Role:

So if you're wondering if there's a difference between the adjunct professor that taught your chemistry I class and the professor who teaches the astronomy II class, there is. An adjunct professor is typically hired on a contractual basis.

While it may not be a permanent position, an adjunct professor does essentially the same things a regular professor does. From writing a syllabus to teaching the class, holding office hours and grading tests, an adjunct professor position really is a great starting point if you want to become a full-time professor in the future. Or, ya know, if you just need a little extra cash on the side.

Average Salary: $98,821
Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Overview How To Become Job Description Jobs

Adjunct Instructor

Role:

As an adjunct instructor, your goal is to impart your wisdom onto students. While also being in charge of coming up with a syllabus for your class, holding office hours and grading their papers. We should note that adjunct instructors aren't full-time. And you probably shouldn't expect the same benefits that are accosted to professors.

Adjunct Instructors are hired on a contractual basis, meaning it's a nice way to make a little extra money but probably shouldn't be your only gig. If your goal is to become a full-time professor in the future, then this is definitely the right stepping stone on that path. If nothing else, you'll at least be able to work on your public speaking. We don't have to tell you how handy that can come in.

Average Salary: $52,030
Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Overview How To Become Job Description Jobs

Adjunct Faculty

Role:

The adjunct faculty is responsible for teaching graduates and undergraduate students in a specific field of expertise. You are allowed to plan, create, lecture, and provide in-class discussions and assignments. Your job allows you to plan and develop a syllabus and ensure it meets college and departmental standards. Plus, you are responsible for grading and assigning papers, exams, and quizzes.

You will give class instructions, evaluate students' performance, and also coordinate courseware and curriculum with the academic department head. However, you will need to be a people person as you need to develop and sustain relationships with students for effectiveness. You will also need to participate in faculty meetings involving departmental updates, prepare materials and supervise the distribution, and make copies of supplementary materials available for distribution in class. You may also be required to maintain a record of student progress, involvement, and attendance.

An adjunct faculty must be detail-oriented, punctual, and must be able to motivate. He/She must also be a lover of academics, possess excellent communication skills, self-discipline, and the ability to teach well. The average salary of an adjunct faculty yearly is $50,000. An adjunct faculty must have a Master's degree in a related academic field.

Average Salary: $83,069
Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Overview How To Become Job Description Jobs

States With The Most Professor Jobs

Mouse over a state to see the number of active professor jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where professors earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Average Salary: Job Openings:

Number Of Professor Jobs By State

Rank	State	Number of Jobs	Average Salary
1	California	1,108	$184,725
2	Pennsylvania	839	$149,559
3	Virginia	816	$133,009
4	Colorado	588	$153,528
5	New Jersey	567	$140,543
6	Florida	504	$125,167
7	North Carolina	499	$155,201
8	Illinois	447	$123,891
9	Oregon	418	$159,500
10	Ohio	396	$136,153
11	Massachusetts	372	$169,102
12	Georgia	369	$136,806
13	Michigan	348	$161,286
14	South Carolina	291	$132,732
15	Minnesota	279	$157,978
16	Wisconsin	275	$115,257
17	Kentucky	250	$139,849
18	Alabama	246	$162,175
19	Washington	241	$158,541
20	Maryland	229	$142,323
21	Missouri	225	$135,213
22	Louisiana	205	$148,799
23	Iowa	201	$137,685
24	Indiana	169	$151,984
25	Mississippi	160	$158,105
26	West Virginia	157	$136,285
27	Nebraska	136	$144,196
28	Arizona	129	$147,541
29	New Mexico	88	$157,242
30	Montana	86	$140,936
31	Kansas	85	$138,292
32	Connecticut	84	$175,104
33	Vermont	82	$121,660
34	Oklahoma	75	$160,897
35	Arkansas	63	$152,406
36	Alaska	63	$148,230
37	Maine	58	$156,784
38	Rhode Island	58	$138,841
39	Delaware	42	$131,133
40	New Hampshire	34	$130,081
41	Idaho	33	$132,414
42	North Dakota	25	$166,261
43	Nevada	25	$154,883
44	Wyoming	19	$138,639
45	Hawaii	9	$106,075
46	Utah	0	$179,789
47	New York	0	$179,258
48	Texas	0	$158,884
49	South Dakota	0	$133,861
50	Tennessee	0	$127,349

Professor Education

Professor Majors

Business

12.1 %

Law

9.1 %

Psychology

8.7 %

Professor Degrees

Bachelors

52.0 %

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 10.3% of professors listed philosophy on their resume, but soft skills such as interpersonal skills and speaking skills are important as well.

Philosophy, 10.3%

Curriculum Development, 9.2%

Mathematics, 5.9%

C++, 5.0%

Literature, 4.9%

Other Skills, 64.7%

Choose From 10+ Customizable Professor Resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Professor templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Professor resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Professor diversity

Professor Gender Distribution

Male

57%

Female

43%

After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

Among professors, 43.3% of them are women, while 56.7% are men.

The most common race/ethnicity among professors is White, which makes up 64.5% of all professors.

The most common foreign language among professors is Spanish at 52.0%.

Online Courses For Professor That You May Like

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Best States For a Professor

Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a professor. The best states for people in this position are California, Utah, New York, and Connecticut. Professors make the most in California with an average salary of $184,725. Whereas in Utah and New York, they would average $179,789 and $179,258, respectively. While professors would only make an average of $175,104 in Connecticut, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

1. Alabama

Total Professor Jobs: 246

Highest 10% Earn:

$249,000

Location Quotient:

1.38

$162,175

Avg. Salary

View 246 Professor Jobs In AL

2. Mississippi

Total Professor Jobs: 160

Highest 10% Earn:

$245,000

Location Quotient:

1.87

$158,105

Avg. Salary

View 160 Professor Jobs In MS

3. Michigan

Total Professor Jobs: 348

Highest 10% Earn:

$245,000

Location Quotient:

1.11

$161,286

Avg. Salary

View 348 Professor Jobs In MI

Full List Of Best States For Professors

How Do Professors Rate Their Jobs?

Top Professor Employers

Most Common Employers For Professor

Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
1	Stanford University	$255,075	$122.63	31
2	University of Washington	$246,346	$118.44	32
3	University of California	$236,419	$113.66	45
4	New York University	$219,663	$105.61	75
5	Yale University	$216,834	$104.25	55
6	Columbia University in the City of New York	$214,213	$102.99	71
7	Harvard University	$202,470	$97.34	60
8	Princeton University	$194,473	$93.50	36
9	University of California-Berkeley	$189,981	$91.34	114
10	Cornell University	$186,137	$89.49	32

What Are The Best Companies To Work For A History Professor?

Zackery M. Heern

Associate Professor of History, Idaho State University

High schools, colleges, Idaho National Laboratories, government agencies, law, etc.

Professor Videos

Some Advice About Becoming a Philosophy Professor

Career Advice on becoming a Professor of Applied Logic & Head of School Elect by Dave R (Highlights)

Career Advice - Professor of Applied Logic & Head of School Elect by Dave R (Full Version)

Becoming a Professor FAQs

Do You Need A Ph.d. To Be A Professor?

Yes, you do need a Ph.D. to be a professor. While some colleges and universities may not require a Ph.D. to be a professor, the minimum requirement for the position is typically at least to pursue a Ph.D. in their field.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Professor?

It typically takes about ten to fifteen years to become a professor. The first step to becoming a professor is to become an associate professor. This typically takes five to seven years after gaining a master's degree or completing a doctoral program to become an associate professor.

Is A Professor Higher Than A Doctor?

The role of a professor and doctor are equivalent when used to describe a person's educational level. Both a professor and a doctor must possess equivalent advanced degree qualifications. Therefore neither of these roles is above the other. However, they do require different qualifications.

Lecturer Vs Professor

A lecturer is a professional that teaches college-level students but also has a career outside of the classroom, while a professor is strictly a teacher of college-level students.

Lecturers often have another career and are hired to teach a specific course pertaining to their career. Academic institutions hire lecturers based on their career experience and accomplishments, meaning that a lecturer may not need to be educated to the Ph.D. level in order to teach. This is seen most often with business lecturers.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Being A Professor?

The pros of being a professor are research freedom and scheduling flexibility, while the cons include instability and competition.

Here is a more detailed look at the pros and cons of being a professor:

What Is The Difference Between A Professor And An Assistant Professor?

The difference between a professor and an assistant professor lies primarily in their status and salary. While some of the professorial duties are similar, there are several significant differences between the two positions.

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

Search For Professor Jobs

Updated April 6, 2023

What is a Professor?

What Does a Professor Do

How To Become a Professor

Professor Career Paths

Average Salary for a Professor

Roles and Types of Professor

Adjunct Professor

Role:

Adjunct Instructor

Role:

Adjunct Faculty

Role:

States With The Most Professor Jobs

Number Of Professor Jobs By State

Professor Education

Professor Majors

Professor Degrees

Top Colleges for Professors

1. Northwestern University

2. University of Texas at Austin

3. Harvard University

4. Duke University

5. Cornell University

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

7. Stanford University

8. University of Pennsylvania

9. University of Southern California

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

Top Skills For a Professor

Choose From 10+ Customizable Professor Resume templates

Professor diversity

Professor Gender Distribution

Online Courses For Professor That You May Like

Best States For a Professor

How Do Professors Rate Their Jobs?

Top Professor Employers

Most Common Employers For Professor

What Are The Best Companies To Work For A History Professor?

Professor Videos

Becoming a Professor FAQs

Do You Need A Ph.d. To Be A Professor?

How Long Does It Take To Become A Professor?

Is A Professor Higher Than A Doctor?

Lecturer Vs Professor

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Being A Professor?

What Is The Difference Between A Professor And An Assistant Professor?

Search For Professor Jobs

Professor Related Careers

Professor Related Jobs

What Similar Roles Do

Resume For Related Jobs