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Professor salary
Average professor salary
$157,570
Understanding Professor Salaries
The average salary for a professor in the United States is $157,570 per year. Factors influencing this figure include the professor's field, years of experience, and the state in which they teach. For instance, professors in states like California and New York often earn higher salaries compared to those in other regions.
As you consider your career path, it's crucial to review salary estimates for various academic roles. Many universities offer competitive compensation based on the demand for specific subjects and the institution's funding. Fields such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) generally command higher salaries due to their specialized nature.
Additionally, professors with advanced degrees and extensive experience tend to see greater financial rewards. Understanding these salary dynamics can help you identify the best career opportunities and make informed decisions about your academic future.
Top Paying States for Professors
- California
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Washington
- Texas
Each of these states offers unique advantages, from higher salaries to diverse job markets, making them ideal for aspiring professors.
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Where can a Professor earn more?
Professor salary estimates from across the web
Average professor salary by state
The average professor salary in California, Utah, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average professor salary states are Tennessee, Florida, and Illinois.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for professors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | $162,175 | $77.97 |
| 2 | Mississippi | $158,105 | $76.01 |
| 3 | Michigan | $161,286 | $77.54 |
| 4 | Oregon | $159,500 | $76.68 |
| 5 | California | $184,725 | $88.81 |
| 6 | Utah | $179,789 | $86.44 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $169,102 | $81.30 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $166,261 | $79.93 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $170,189 | $81.82 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $175,104 | $84.18 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $155,201 | $74.62 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $157,242 | $75.60 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $160,897 | $77.35 |
| 14 | Maine | $156,784 | $75.38 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $157,978 | $75.95 |
| 16 | New York | $179,258 | $86.18 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $149,559 | $71.90 |
| 18 | Colorado | $153,528 | $73.81 |
| 19 | Texas | $158,884 | $76.39 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $148,799 | $71.54 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $152,406 | $73.27 |
| 22 | Indiana | $151,984 | $73.07 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $144,196 | $69.33 |
| 24 | Washington | $158,541 | $76.22 |
| 25 | Alaska | $148,230 | $71.26 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $139,849 | $67.24 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $136,285 | $65.52 |
| 28 | Nevada | $154,883 | $74.46 |
| 29 | Montana | $140,936 | $67.76 |
| 30 | Iowa | $137,685 | $66.19 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $140,543 | $67.57 |
| 32 | Arizona | $147,541 | $70.93 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $138,841 | $66.75 |
| 34 | Ohio | $136,153 | $65.46 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $138,639 | $66.65 |
| 36 | Maryland | $142,323 | $68.42 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $132,732 | $63.81 |
| 38 | Kansas | $138,292 | $66.49 |
| 39 | Georgia | $136,806 | $65.77 |
| 40 | Virginia | $133,009 | $63.95 |
| 41 | Missouri | $135,213 | $65.01 |
| 42 | Vermont | $121,660 | $58.49 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $133,861 | $64.36 |
| 44 | Delaware | $131,133 | $63.04 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $115,257 | $55.41 |
| 46 | Idaho | $132,414 | $63.66 |
| 47 | Florida | $125,167 | $60.18 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $127,349 | $61.23 |
| 49 | Illinois | $123,891 | $59.56 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $130,081 | $62.54 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $106,075 | $51.00 |
Highest paying cities for professors
The highest-paying cities for professors are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and New Haven, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $216,671 | $104.17 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $203,866 | $98.01 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $195,643 | $94.06 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $189,600 | $91.15 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $185,217 | $89.05 |
| 6 | Richardson, TX | $179,582 | $86.34 |
| 7 | Ann Arbor, MI | $174,263 | $83.78 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $167,838 | $80.69 |
| 9 | Chapel Hill, NC | $167,622 | $80.59 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $167,064 | $80.32 |
| 11 | Bloomington, IN | $163,083 | $78.41 |
| 12 | Aurora, CO | $162,469 | $78.11 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $157,528 | $75.73 |
| 14 | Tempe, AZ | $155,858 | $74.93 |
| 15 | Gainesville, FL | $152,548 | $73.34 |
| 16 | College Park, MD | $148,347 | $71.32 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $143,611 | $69.04 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $141,095 | $67.83 |
| 19 | Columbia, MO | $139,080 | $66.87 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $138,205 | $66.44 |
Professor salary details
A professor's salary ranges from $88,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $280,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a professor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $280,000 | $23,333 | $135 |
| 75th Percentile | $213,000 | $17,750 | $102 |
| Average | $157,570 | $13,131 | $76 |
| 25th Percentile | $116,000 | $9,667 | $56 |
| 10th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
Highest paying professor jobs
The highest paying types of professors are visiting professor, associate professor, and faculty member.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $6,922 | $39.94 | 26,791 |
| Faculty | $80,405 | $6,700 | $38.66 | 21,142 |
| Adjunct Faculty Member | $60,817 | $5,068 | $29.24 | 28,981 |
| Faculty Member | $102,849 | $8,571 | $49.45 | 30,325 |
| Music Internship | $64,045 | $5,337 | $30.79 | 49,414 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
Which companies pay professors the most?
Professor salaries at Oregon Health & Science University and Stanford University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average professor salary at companies like Baylor College of Medicine and University of Washington are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon Health & Science University | $256,269 | $123.21 |
| 2 | Stanford University | $255,075 | $122.63 |
| 3 | Baylor College of Medicine | $246,950 | $118.73 |
| 4 | University of Washington | $246,346 | $118.44 |
| 5 | Northwell Health | $243,309 | $116.98 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts Medical School | $240,105 | $115.44 |
| 7 | University of California | $236,419 | $113.66 |
| 8 | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | $229,664 | $110.42 |
| 9 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $229,013 | $110.10 |
| 10 | UTHealth | $225,190 | $108.26 |
| 11 | IU Health Inc | $224,996 | $108.17 |
| 12 | Emory Healthcare | $224,694 | $108.03 |
| 13 | Duke University Health System | $224,020 | $107.70 |
| 14 | UT Southwestern Medical Center | $222,844 | $107.14 |
| 15 | The University of Chicago | $221,726 | $106.60 |
| 16 | UAB Medicine | $220,249 | $105.89 |
| 17 | Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago | $219,748 | $105.65 |
| 18 | New York University | $219,663 | $105.61 |
| 19 | Yale University | $216,834 | $104.25 |
| 20 | Finger Lakes Community Health | $216,653 | $104.16 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Professor salary trends
The average professor salary has risen by $16,641 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average professor earned $140,929 annually, but today, they earn $157,570 a year. That works out to a 2% change in pay for professors over the last decade.
Compare professor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average professor salary over time
Compare professor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $158,000 | $75.75 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | $157,000 | $75.58 | -0.6% |
| 2023 | $158,000 | $76.05 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $151,000 | $72.75 | -2.6% |
| 2021 | $155,000 | $74.62 | +4.8% |
Recently added professor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado | Behavioral Open Rank Professor Series | Aurora, CO | 06/29/2025 | $220,000 |
| University of Evansville | Consortium Professor of Horn | Evansville, IN | 06/25/2025 | $30,000 |
| Northeastern University | Open-Rank Teaching Professor In Games | Boston, MA | 06/17/2025 | $77,000 |
| Northeastern University | Open Rank Teaching Professor-Analytics | San Jose, CA | 06/17/2025 | $118,800 |
| Northeastern University | Open Rank Teaching Professor-Analytics | Arlington, VA | 06/17/2025 | $106,000 |
| Northeastern University | Open Rank Teaching Professor-Analytics | Arlington, VA | 05/27/2025 | $106,000 |
| Northeastern University | Open Rank Teaching Professor-Analytics | San Jose, CA | 05/27/2025 | $118,800 |
| University of Colorado | Behavioral Open Rank Professor Series | Aurora, CO | 05/26/2025 | $220,000 |
| Northeastern University | Open-Rank Teaching Professor In Games | Boston, MA | 05/25/2025 | $77,000 |
| State of Virginia | Open Rank Tenure-Track Professor of Acting & Directing | Virginia, MN | 05/25/2025 | $115,000 |
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