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As of October 2025, the average salary for an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the United States is approximately $63,645 per year, or $31 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the type of institution. For example, positions at research universities often offer higher salaries compared to those at community colleges.
States like California, New York, and Massachusetts tend to offer some of the highest salaries for this role. In California, the average salary can exceed $80,000, driven by a high cost of living and demand for psychological services.
In addition to traditional teaching roles, assistant professors may engage in research, publish studies, and participate in academic conferences, enhancing their earning potential and career trajectory. For those considering a career in academia, pursuing advanced degrees and gaining teaching experience can significantly impact salary prospects.
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The average assistant professor of psychology salary in California, Nevada, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average assistant professor of psychology salary states are New Mexico, Kansas, and West Virginia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $78,940 | $37.95 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $79,764 | $38.35 |
| 3 | Indiana | $70,152 | $33.73 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $77,249 | $37.14 |
| 5 | California | $91,253 | $43.87 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $79,338 | $38.14 |
| 7 | Utah | $67,118 | $32.27 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $72,848 | $35.02 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $74,891 | $36.01 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $78,123 | $37.56 |
| 11 | Nevada | $81,447 | $39.16 |
| 12 | Illinois | $70,988 | $34.13 |
| 13 | Delaware | $78,337 | $37.66 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $72,256 | $34.74 |
| 15 | Oregon | $66,256 | $31.85 |
| 16 | Iowa | $64,582 | $31.05 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $64,450 | $30.99 |
| 18 | Vermont | $63,736 | $30.64 |
| 19 | Michigan | $64,064 | $30.80 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $61,302 | $29.47 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $62,080 | $29.85 |
| 22 | Alabama | $62,396 | $30.00 |
| 23 | Alaska | $62,265 | $29.94 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $60,702 | $29.18 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $66,675 | $32.06 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $59,242 | $28.48 |
| 27 | Ohio | $61,650 | $29.64 |
| 28 | Arizona | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| 29 | Montana | $62,907 | $30.24 |
| 30 | Idaho | $63,402 | $30.48 |
| 31 | Maine | $60,886 | $29.27 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $62,612 | $30.10 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $60,767 | $29.21 |
| 34 | Virginia | $61,404 | $29.52 |
| 35 | Washington | $64,035 | $30.79 |
| 36 | Missouri | $61,472 | $29.55 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $57,192 | $27.50 |
| 38 | Texas | $57,641 | $27.71 |
| 39 | Maryland | $63,841 | $30.69 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $52,671 | $25.32 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $59,396 | $28.56 |
| 42 | Florida | $58,165 | $27.96 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $55,585 | $26.72 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $58,685 | $28.21 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $57,365 | $27.58 |
| 46 | Colorado | $50,798 | $24.42 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $50,540 | $24.30 |
| 48 | Kansas | $53,350 | $25.65 |
| 49 | Georgia | $55,819 | $26.84 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $53,350 | $25.65 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $50,218 | $24.14 |
The highest-paying cities for assistant professors of psychology are Fresno, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Middletown, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno, CA | $93,298 | $44.85 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $81,108 | $38.99 |
| 3 | Middletown, CT | $79,546 | $38.24 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $79,162 | $38.06 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $71,063 | $34.16 |
| 6 | West Lafayette, IN | $70,058 | $33.68 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $66,752 | $32.09 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $65,975 | $31.72 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,936 | $31.22 |
| 10 | Cedar Falls, IA | $64,688 | $31.10 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $64,105 | $30.82 |
| 12 | Fargo, ND | $62,437 | $30.02 |
| 13 | Virginia Beach, VA | $61,659 | $29.64 |
| 14 | Springfield, MO | $61,456 | $29.55 |
| 15 | Greensboro, NC | $61,051 | $29.35 |
| 16 | Lafayette, LA | $60,939 | $29.30 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $59,795 | $28.75 |
| 18 | Fort Myers, FL | $58,639 | $28.19 |
| 19 | Abilene, TX | $58,005 | $27.89 |
| 20 | Tulsa, OK | $57,195 | $27.50 |
An assistant professor of psychology's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $91,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $91,000 | $7,583 | $44 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| Average | $63,645 | $5,304 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
The highest paying types of assistant professors of psychology are professor, social sciences department chairperson, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology Instructor | $58,760 | $4,897 | $28.25 | 36,350 |
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
| Adjunct Professor | $98,821 | $8,235 | $47.51 | 22,488 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for Assistant professors of psychology, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
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Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College
Top companies hiring assistant professors of psychology now:
Assistant professor of psychology salaries at Columbia University in the City of New York and The George Washington University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average assistant professor of psychology salary at companies like Pace University and University of San Diego are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $104,809 | $50.39 |
| 2 | The George Washington University | $89,281 | $42.92 |
| 3 | Pace University | $86,439 | $41.56 |
| 4 | University of San Diego | $84,082 | $40.42 |
| 5 | Princeton University | $84,053 | $40.41 |
| 6 | Kaiser Permanente | $83,026 | $39.92 |
| 7 | University of Detroit Mercy | $82,147 | $39.49 |
| 8 | Skidmore College | $81,943 | $39.40 |
| 9 | American Psychological Association | $81,937 | $39.39 |
| 10 | Santa Clara University | $80,424 | $38.67 |
| 11 | Fordham University | $80,083 | $38.50 |
| 12 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $78,169 | $37.58 |
| 13 | University of Mississippi Medical Center | $77,638 | $37.33 |
| 14 | Williams College | $77,530 | $37.27 |
| 15 | Brown University | $77,118 | $37.08 |
| 16 | University of La Verne | $76,730 | $36.89 |
| 17 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | $75,490 | $36.29 |
| 18 | Allegheny College | $75,199 | $36.15 |
| 19 | The City University of New York | $75,190 | $36.15 |
| 20 | Claremont McKenna College | $74,564 | $35.85 |
The average assistant professor of psychology salary has risen by $8,165 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average assistant professor of psychology earned $55,480 annually, but today, they earn $63,645 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for assistant professors of psychology over the last decade.
Compare assistant professor of psychology salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare assistant professor of psychology salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $63,600 | $30.60 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $62,400 | $29.99 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | $62,400 | $30.02 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $60,100 | $28.87 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $59,500 | $28.63 | +3.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCU Credit Union | Assistant Professor Counseling Psychology-Three Positions | Santa Clara, CA | 06/29/2025 | $85,947 |
| Hofstra University | Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology | Hempstead, NY | 06/28/2025 | $92,000 |
| Santa Clara University | Assistant Professor Counseling Psychology-Three Positions | Santa Clara, CA | 06/28/2025 | $85,947 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Assistant Professor of Psychological Science (Open Area) | Los Angeles, CA | 06/28/2025 | $87,000 |
| Hilbert College | Assistant Professor, Psychology | Hamburg, NY | 06/26/2025 | $55,000 |
| St. Olaf College | Assistant Professor of Clinical/Counseling/School Psychology | Northfield, MN | 06/26/2025 | $74,190 |
| Idaho State University | Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, College of Arts & Letters (1038) | Pocatello, ID | 06/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| University of Mount Saint Vincent | Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Assistant Professor of Psychology-Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield, MA | 06/25/2025 | $58,438 |
| Comprehensive Behavior Supports | Psychology Opportunity-Free Training Yonkers | Yonkers, NY | 06/21/2025 | $41,740 |
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