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The average salary for an Assistant Professor of Political Science in the United States is around $78,076 per year. This figure is influenced by various factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the type of institution. For example, professors at research universities typically earn higher salaries compared to those in community colleges.
Salaries can vary significantly by state. States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to living costs and demand for political science educators. In contrast, states with lower demand may offer less competitive compensation.
Positions in urban areas tend to pay more than those in rural settings. Additionally, administrative roles or positions with tenure-track options typically come with higher compensation. As you explore job opportunities, consider not only the salary but also benefits, research opportunities, and department resources to find the best fit for your career.
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The highest-paying states for assistant professors of political science are Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The lowest average assistant professor of political science salary states are Florida, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $115,016 | $55.30 |
| 2 | Vermont | $97,755 | $47.00 |
| 3 | Utah | $98,278 | $47.25 |
| 4 | New York | $100,461 | $48.30 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $106,602 | $51.25 |
| 6 | Mississippi | $89,641 | $43.10 |
| 7 | Alaska | $93,825 | $45.11 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $100,182 | $48.16 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $90,957 | $43.73 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $93,185 | $44.80 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $101,249 | $48.68 |
| 12 | Nevada | $92,529 | $44.49 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $101,061 | $48.59 |
| 14 | Maine | $88,979 | $42.78 |
| 15 | Delaware | $97,085 | $46.68 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $79,031 | $38.00 |
| 17 | California | $100,005 | $48.08 |
| 18 | Michigan | $81,045 | $38.96 |
| 19 | Maryland | $93,623 | $45.01 |
| 20 | Iowa | $78,508 | $37.74 |
| 21 | Idaho | $79,813 | $38.37 |
| 22 | Montana | $74,493 | $35.81 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $77,442 | $37.23 |
| 24 | Washington | $85,673 | $41.19 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $71,110 | $34.19 |
| 26 | Kansas | $77,666 | $37.34 |
| 27 | Oregon | $75,004 | $36.06 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $80,531 | $38.72 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $71,517 | $34.38 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $76,717 | $36.88 |
| 31 | Illinois | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| 32 | Colorado | $71,322 | $34.29 |
| 33 | Ohio | $78,687 | $37.83 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $70,660 | $33.97 |
| 35 | Virginia | $73,309 | $35.24 |
| 36 | Indiana | $75,272 | $36.19 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $67,544 | $32.47 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $70,699 | $33.99 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $70,640 | $33.96 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $71,438 | $34.35 |
| 41 | Alabama | $62,241 | $29.92 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $66,368 | $31.91 |
| 43 | Missouri | $69,852 | $33.58 |
| 44 | Arizona | $68,379 | $32.87 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $67,610 | $32.50 |
| 46 | Texas | $57,889 | $27.83 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $59,329 | $28.52 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $55,747 | $26.80 |
| 50 | Florida | $60,333 | $29.01 |
| 51 | Georgia | $59,392 | $28.55 |
The highest-paying cities for assistant professors of political science are Providence, RI, Washington, DC, and Oakland, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence, RI | $115,331 | $55.45 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $106,647 | $51.27 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $106,471 | $51.19 |
| 4 | Bridgewater, MA | $101,790 | $48.94 |
| 5 | Poughkeepsie, NY | $101,181 | $48.64 |
| 6 | Annapolis, MD | $93,823 | $45.11 |
| 7 | Lincoln, NE | $90,876 | $43.69 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $86,583 | $41.63 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $81,500 | $39.18 |
| 10 | Moscow, ID | $80,512 | $38.71 |
| 11 | New Brunswick, NJ | $80,377 | $38.64 |
| 12 | Grand Rapids, MI | $78,615 | $37.80 |
| 13 | Williamsport, PA | $77,451 | $37.24 |
| 14 | Greenville, NC | $74,991 | $36.05 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $74,852 | $35.99 |
| 16 | Colorado Springs, CO | $71,214 | $34.24 |
| 17 | Murfreesboro, TN | $70,592 | $33.94 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $69,957 | $33.63 |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $67,650 | $32.52 |
| 20 | Columbus, GA | $59,007 | $28.37 |
An assistant professor of political science's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $136,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $136,000 | $11,333 | $65 |
| 75th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| Average | $78,076 | $6,506 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
The highest paying types of assistant professors of political science are government professor, professor, and international relations professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
| Political Science Instructor | $56,669 | $4,722 | $27.24 | 39,344 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for Assistant professors of political science, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David McMahan Ph.D.
Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College
Top companies hiring assistant professors of political science now:
Assistant professor of political science salaries at The Citadel and Columbia University in the City of New York are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average assistant professor of political science salary at companies like Stanford University and The George Washington University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Citadel | $135,446 | $65.12 |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $124,100 | $59.66 |
| 3 | Stanford University | $115,836 | $55.69 |
| 4 | The George Washington University | $107,751 | $51.80 |
| 5 | Saint Louis University | $105,520 | $50.73 |
| 6 | Reed College | $100,214 | $48.18 |
| 7 | Santa Clara University | $97,634 | $46.94 |
| 8 | United States Naval Academy | $91,041 | $43.77 |
| 9 | University of Delaware | $90,665 | $43.59 |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University | $90,573 | $43.54 |
| 11 | Creighton University | $88,808 | $42.70 |
| 12 | University of La Verne | $88,765 | $42.68 |
| 13 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $88,430 | $42.51 |
| 14 | Brown University | $87,766 | $42.20 |
| 15 | Fordham University | $85,794 | $41.25 |
| 16 | Chapman University | $85,407 | $41.06 |
| 17 | Rutgers University | $85,306 | $41.01 |
| 18 | California State University | $84,974 | $40.85 |
| 19 | Pitzer College | $83,911 | $40.34 |
| 20 | Boston University | $83,410 | $40.10 |
The average assistant professor of political science salary has risen by $13,010 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average assistant professor of political science earned $65,066 annually, but today, they earn $78,076 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for assistant professors of political science over the last decade.
Compare assistant professor of political science salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare assistant professor of political science salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $78,100 | $37.54 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | $78,200 | $37.61 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $75,900 | $36.49 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $74,100 | $35.64 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $72,100 | $34.67 | +3.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah State University | Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science | Logan, UT | 06/30/2025 | $55,000 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Assistant Professor In Political Science and International Relations | Los Angeles, CA | 06/28/2025 | $87,000 |
| Utah State University | Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science | Logan, UT | 04/29/2025 | $55,000 |
| UMS Group | Assistant Professor of History and Political Science | Presque Isle, ME | 04/28/2025 | $62,222 |
| Skidmore College | Visiting Assistant Professor, Political Science | Saratoga Springs, NY | 04/23/2025 | $67,636 |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science | Maryland | 04/19/2025 | $65,000 |
| UMS Group | Assistant Professor of History and Political Science | Presque Isle, ME | 03/29/2025 | $62,222 |
| Fhsu | Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies, LAW, and Political Science (Public Relatio | Hays, KS | 03/28/2025 | $51,034 |
| Jobs@Du | Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor, Political Science (Political Theory) | Denver, CO | 03/16/2025 | $25,000 |
| University of Denver | Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor, Political Science (Political Theory) | Denver, CO | 03/14/2025 | $25,000 |
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