Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Law professor salary
Average law professor salary
$153,386
Understanding Law Professor Salaries
The average law professor salary in the United States is approximately $153,386 per year or about $74 per hour. Salaries can vary widely based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific institution of employment. For instance, law professors at prestigious universities often command higher salaries compared to those at smaller colleges.
Salary Variation by State
States like California, New York, and Massachusetts typically offer the highest salaries for law professors. In California, for example, the average salary can exceed $170,000, reflecting the state's high cost of living and demand for legal education. Conversely, states with fewer law schools may offer lower compensation, yet they can provide a balanced lifestyle with lower living costs.
Opportunities for Advancement
As law professors gain experience, they may also have opportunities to increase their earnings through administrative roles, research positions, or by publishing scholarly works. Understanding how these factors influence salary can help aspiring law professors make informed career choices.
Let Zippia find your next law professor job
Let Zippia find your next law professor job
Where can a Law Professor earn more?
Law professor salary estimates from across the web
Average law professor salary by state
The highest-paying states for law professors are California, Utah, and Colorado. The lowest average law professor salary states are Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for law professors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | $172,111 | $82.75 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $165,674 | $79.65 |
| 3 | Mississippi | $161,148 | $77.47 |
| 4 | Colorado | $167,593 | $80.57 |
| 5 | Kansas | $164,563 | $79.12 |
| 6 | Virginia | $160,160 | $77.00 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $146,172 | $70.28 |
| 8 | Missouri | $164,809 | $79.24 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $160,474 | $77.15 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $155,069 | $74.55 |
| 11 | Oregon | $154,432 | $74.25 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $147,599 | $70.96 |
| 13 | Alabama | $149,100 | $71.68 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $162,379 | $78.07 |
| 15 | Maine | $153,364 | $73.73 |
| 16 | California | $173,257 | $83.30 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $159,580 | $76.72 |
| 18 | Arizona | $163,818 | $78.76 |
| 19 | Illinois | $162,681 | $78.21 |
| 20 | Washington | $157,883 | $75.91 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $150,055 | $72.14 |
| 22 | Texas | $143,981 | $69.22 |
| 23 | Ohio | $145,529 | $69.97 |
| 24 | Alaska | $145,669 | $70.03 |
| 25 | Vermont | $137,161 | $65.94 |
| 26 | Iowa | $137,815 | $66.26 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $134,827 | $64.82 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $139,860 | $67.24 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $137,205 | $65.96 |
| 30 | Nevada | $148,182 | $71.24 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $139,271 | $66.96 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $128,703 | $61.88 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $136,583 | $65.66 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $137,675 | $66.19 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $124,036 | $59.63 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $134,105 | $64.47 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $126,773 | $60.95 |
| 38 | Montana | $128,829 | $61.94 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $120,185 | $57.78 |
| 40 | Delaware | $136,576 | $65.66 |
| 41 | Maryland | $136,228 | $65.49 |
| 42 | New York | $111,196 | $53.46 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $132,456 | $63.68 |
| 44 | Indiana | $123,500 | $59.38 |
| 45 | Idaho | $128,388 | $61.73 |
| 46 | Michigan | $112,940 | $54.30 |
| 47 | Florida | $119,297 | $57.35 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $116,315 | $55.92 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $115,972 | $55.76 |
| 50 | Georgia | $114,321 | $54.96 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $51,489 | $24.75 |
Highest paying cities for law professors
The highest-paying cities for law professors are Berkeley, CA, Boulder, CO, and Lincoln, NE.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley, CA | $191,254 | $91.95 |
| 2 | Boulder, CO | $181,032 | $87.03 |
| 3 | Lincoln, NE | $179,351 | $86.23 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $174,379 | $83.84 |
| 5 | Charlottesville, VA | $172,666 | $83.01 |
| 6 | Tucson, AZ | $171,949 | $82.67 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $170,652 | $82.04 |
| 8 | Lubbock, TX | $158,139 | $76.03 |
| 9 | Concord, NH | $141,285 | $67.93 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $139,638 | $67.13 |
| 11 | New Orleans, LA | $138,127 | $66.41 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $116,111 | $55.82 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $111,829 | $53.76 |
Law professor salary details
A law professor's salary ranges from $87,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $269,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a law professor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $269,000 | $22,417 | $129 |
| 75th Percentile | $206,000 | $17,167 | $99 |
| Average | $153,386 | $12,782 | $74 |
| 25th Percentile | $113,000 | $9,417 | $54 |
| 10th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
Highest paying law professor jobs
The highest paying types of law professors are professor, adjunct professor, and adjunct professor of law.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice | $53,502 | $4,459 | $25.72 | 1,014 |
| Criminal Justice Instructor | $52,523 | $4,377 | $25.25 | 24,893 |
| Law Enforcement Technician | $44,124 | $3,677 | $21.21 | 6,659 |
| Adjunct Professor | $98,821 | $8,235 | $47.51 | 22,488 |
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
Which companies pay law professors the most?
Law professor salaries at Brooklyn Law School and Emory Healthcare are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average law professor salary at companies like Columbia University in the City of New York and Emory University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooklyn Law School | $222,061 | $106.76 |
| 2 | Emory Healthcare | $201,022 | $96.65 |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $196,522 | $94.48 |
| 4 | Emory University | $192,328 | $92.47 |
| 5 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $187,128 | $89.97 |
| 6 | Georgetown University | $171,469 | $82.44 |
| 7 | University of California-Berkeley | $170,559 | $82.00 |
| 8 | University of Arizona Foundation | $166,114 | $79.86 |
| 9 | University of Colorado Boulder | $164,842 | $79.25 |
| 10 | Yeshiva University | $163,065 | $78.40 |
| 11 | University of Baltimore | $161,110 | $77.46 |
| 12 | Tulane University | $158,775 | $76.33 |
| 13 | California Western School of Law | $158,359 | $76.13 |
| 14 | Board Of Regents Of The University System Of Georgia | $151,815 | $72.99 |
| 15 | University of Virginia | $149,812 | $72.03 |
| 16 | University of Notre Dame | $142,980 | $68.74 |
| 17 | Illinois Institute of Technology | $141,492 | $68.03 |
| 18 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $138,230 | $66.46 |
| 19 | Hastings College | $106,579 | $51.24 |
| 20 | Texas Tech University | $100,813 | $48.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Law professor salary trends
The average law professor salary has risen by $9,846 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average law professor earned $143,540 annually, but today, they earn $153,386 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for law professors over the last decade.
Compare law professor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average law professor salary over time
Compare law professor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Law professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $153,000 | $73.74 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $152,000 | $72.93 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $149,000 | $71.82 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $146,000 | $70.08 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $144,000 | $69.14 | +1.4% |
Recently added law professor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola University of Chicago Inc. | School of LAW, Clinical Assistant Professor of Law (Property, Evidence and Torts), Non-Tenure Track | Chicago, IL | 06/26/2025 | $62,500 |
| Loyola University of Chicago Inc. | School of LAW, Assistant Professor of LAW, Tenure Track | Chicago, IL | 03/26/2025 | $130,000 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Professor of Law | Ione, CA | 03/20/2025 | $180,000 |
| SCU Credit Union | Professor of Law | Santa Clara, CA | 02/28/2025 | $187,750 |
| Santa Clara University | Professor of Law | Santa Clara, CA | 02/21/2025 | $168,000 |
| Touro College | Director of The Antisemitism and The Law Clinic and Assistant Clinical Professor of Law | Central Islip, NY | 02/19/2025 | $100,000 |
| UCLA Fielding School of Public Health | Professor of LAW, Emphasis On Mentorship | Los Angeles, CA | 02/19/2025 | $221,000 |
| USC | Gould School of Law | Los Angeles, CA | 02/18/2025 | $86,000 |
| Chapman University | Full Professor of LAW, Tenured, Fall 2025 | Ione, CA | 02/17/2025 | $165,000 |
| Wlala | Professor of LAW, Emphasis On Mentorship Ucla | Los Angeles, CA | 02/17/2025 | $221,000 |
Law professor salary FAQs
Search for law professor jobs