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The average salary for an English professor in the United States stands at approximately $56,038 annually. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of educational institution. For instance, professors at research universities often earn more than those at community colleges.
Experience plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level positions typically offer lower wages, while seasoned professors with advanced degrees and extensive publications can command significantly higher salaries. Additionally, professors who engage in administrative roles or special projects often receive bonuses or additional compensation.
States like California, New York, and Massachusetts tend to offer the highest salaries for English professors due to their cost of living and demand for quality education. For example, in California, the average salary can exceed $70,000, making it an attractive location for prospective educators.
Beyond salary, a career as an English professor offers various opportunities for professional growth, including participation in academic conferences, publishing research, and mentoring students. These elements contribute to a rewarding career that impacts the educational landscape.
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The highest-paying states for english professors are California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The lowest average english professor salary states are Iowa, New Mexico, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $81,298 | $39.09 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $84,815 | $40.78 |
| 3 | Vermont | $70,588 | $33.94 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $77,861 | $37.43 |
| 5 | Montana | $63,025 | $30.30 |
| 6 | California | $102,568 | $49.31 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $88,360 | $42.48 |
| 8 | Utah | $69,174 | $33.26 |
| 9 | Delaware | $77,251 | $37.14 |
| 10 | Nevada | $81,749 | $39.30 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $81,795 | $39.32 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $67,337 | $32.37 |
| 13 | Michigan | $64,564 | $31.04 |
| 14 | Maine | $63,457 | $30.51 |
| 15 | Alaska | $58,209 | $27.99 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $61,331 | $29.49 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $63,386 | $30.47 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $57,653 | $27.72 |
| 19 | Oregon | $58,455 | $28.10 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $53,133 | $25.54 |
| 21 | Maryland | $67,988 | $32.69 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $56,327 | $27.08 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $59,269 | $28.49 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $53,597 | $25.77 |
| 25 | Washington | $65,693 | $31.58 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $67,969 | $32.68 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $49,564 | $23.83 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $52,259 | $25.12 |
| 29 | Virginia | $51,943 | $24.97 |
| 30 | Texas | $49,729 | $23.91 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $49,901 | $23.99 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $46,885 | $22.54 |
| 33 | Colorado | $48,594 | $23.36 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $50,416 | $24.24 |
| 35 | Alabama | $47,890 | $23.02 |
| 36 | Florida | $50,441 | $24.25 |
| 37 | Iowa | $46,327 | $22.27 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $55,761 | $26.81 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $47,589 | $22.88 |
| 40 | Arizona | $51,450 | $24.74 |
| 41 | Illinois | $50,659 | $24.36 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $45,384 | $21.82 |
| 43 | Missouri | $47,418 | $22.80 |
| 44 | Georgia | $47,939 | $23.05 |
| 45 | Ohio | $46,412 | $22.31 |
| 46 | Kansas | $47,655 | $22.91 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $46,195 | $22.21 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $47,310 | $22.75 |
| 49 | Idaho | $39,359 | $18.92 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $35,792 | $17.21 |
| 51 | Indiana | $33,230 | $15.98 |
The highest-paying cities for english professors are Placerville, CA, Ontario, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Placerville, CA | $110,047 | $52.91 |
| 2 | Ontario, CA | $100,941 | $48.53 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $81,597 | $39.23 |
| 4 | Vancouver, WA | $66,969 | $32.20 |
| 5 | Lewisburg, PA | $55,809 | $26.83 |
| 6 | Forest Park, IL | $50,864 | $24.45 |
| 7 | Hillsboro, TX | $49,277 | $23.69 |
| 8 | Auburn, AL | $47,681 | $22.92 |
| 9 | Denton, TX | $47,681 | $22.92 |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $47,578 | $22.87 |
| 11 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $47,353 | $22.77 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $47,305 | $22.74 |
| 13 | Salisbury, NC | $47,158 | $22.67 |
| 14 | Columbia, SC | $45,285 | $21.77 |
| 15 | Tulsa, OK | $35,310 | $16.98 |
An english professor's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $118,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $118,000 | $9,833 | $57 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| Average | $56,038 | $4,670 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
The highest paying types of english professors are professor, visiting professor, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $6,922 | $39.94 | 26,791 |
| Tutor | $33,998 | $2,833 | $16.35 | 45,543 |
| Instructor Of Spanish | $54,930 | $4,578 | $26.41 | 25,516 |
| Lecturer | $61,988 | $5,166 | $29.80 | 26,449 |
| Teaching Fellow | $44,040 | $3,670 | $21.17 | 40,551 |
| Writing Tutor | $25,557 | $2,130 | $12.29 | 16,653 |
Top companies hiring english professors now:
English professor salaries at Saint Louis University and The University of Tulsa are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average english professor salary at companies like Bucknell University and University of North Texas are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Louis University | $83,320 | $40.06 |
| 2 | The University of Tulsa | $75,201 | $36.15 |
| 3 | Bucknell University | $72,612 | $34.91 |
| 4 | University of North Texas | $61,981 | $29.80 |
| 5 | The University of Alabama | $52,527 | $25.25 |
| 6 | Clark College | $52,069 | $25.03 |
| 7 | Proviso Township Schools | $51,953 | $24.98 |
| 8 | Nyc Parks | $50,035 | $24.06 |
| 9 | Auburn University | $47,884 | $23.02 |
| 10 | Chaffey Joint Union High School District | $44,807 | $21.54 |
| 11 | Livingstone College | $38,858 | $18.68 |
| 12 | Kansas City Kansas Community College | $36,780 | $17.68 |
The average english professor salary has risen by $6,164 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average english professor earned $49,874 annually, but today, they earn $56,038 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for english professors over the last decade.
Compare english professor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare english professor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $56,000 | $26.94 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | $55,600 | $26.74 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $54,100 | $26.00 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $52,700 | $25.34 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $51,800 | $24.88 | +2.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Arthur Independent School District (Tx | English) | Port Arthur, TX | 06/27/2025 | $53,400 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | English | Great Falls, MT | 06/07/2025 | $40,701 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | English | Great Falls, MT | 05/20/2025 | $40,701 |
| Mesa County Valley School District 51 | English | Boone, CO | 05/07/2025 | $50,015 |
| William Penn School District | English | Lansdowne, PA | 05/05/2025 | $51,619 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | English | Helena, MT | 04/23/2025 | $42,873 |
| Kilgore Independent School District (Tx | English | Kilgore, TX | 04/13/2025 | $50,000 |
| Port Arthur Independent School District (Tx | English) | Port Arthur, TX | 03/26/2025 | $53,400 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | English | Rocky Boy West, MT | 03/21/2025 | $43,631 |
| The President & Fellows of Middlebury College | Assoc Professor of Chinese/English Trans & Interpretation | Monterey, CA | 03/20/2025 | $64,150 |
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