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Professor of biology salary

Average professor of biology salary

$80,294

$38.6 hourly rate

Entry-level professor of biology salary
$45,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Understanding the Salary of a Professor of Biology

The role of a Professor of Biology is vital in academia, contributing to research and educating future generations. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $80,294 annually, reflecting the importance of advanced education and expertise in the field. Salaries can differ based on factors such as experience and geographic location.

In states like California and New York, biology professors often earn significantly higher salaries, sometimes exceeding $100,000. This discrepancy is due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled educators in these regions.

Additionally, the type of institution also impacts salary. Professors at research universities typically earn more than those at community colleges. Job seekers should consider these variables when evaluating career opportunities.

To stay competitive in this field, pursuing advanced degrees and engaging in ongoing research can enhance earning potential and job prospects. For those interested in entering or advancing in this profession, staying informed about salary trends and job openings is essential.

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Where can a Professor Of Biology earn more?

Compare salary by location
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Columbus, OH$102,194
Greensboro, NC$60,940
Compare salary by company
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Harvard University$104,769
Volunteer State Community College$57,710

Professor of biology salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Glassdoor and Comparably, the average salary for a professor of biology typically falls between $80,294 and $188,481.
zippia
$80,294yearly
glassdoor[1]
$174,594yearly
comparably[2]
$188,481yearly

Average professor of biology salary by state

The average professor of biology salary in Utah, California, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average professor of biology salary states are Arizona, Tennessee, and Missouri.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for professors of biology

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1New York$105,085$50.52
2Utah$110,041$52.90
3Oregon$91,034$43.77
4Alaska$90,594$43.55
5Rhode Island$86,880$41.77
6California$109,882$52.83
7District of Columbia$83,161$39.98
8Massachusetts$84,096$40.43
9New Jersey$81,725$39.29
10Wisconsin$74,910$36.01
11Idaho$89,740$43.14
12Pennsylvania$76,241$36.65
13Connecticut$84,374$40.56
14Nevada$87,729$42.18
15Delaware$85,281$41.00
16Vermont$71,918$34.58
17South Dakota$69,663$33.49
18Washington$78,982$37.97
19North Dakota$77,265$37.15
20Michigan$71,957$34.59
21New Hampshire$81,237$39.06
22Colorado$69,171$33.26
23Indiana$73,240$35.21
24Kansas$69,203$33.27
25Maine$70,251$33.77
26Ohio$70,554$33.92
27Illinois$72,636$34.92
28Minnesota$69,213$33.28
29Virginia$68,187$32.78
30Wyoming$69,036$33.19
31Alabama$64,653$31.08
32New Mexico$70,716$34.00
33Mississippi$61,252$29.45
34Louisiana$62,532$30.06
35Oklahoma$66,995$32.21
36Iowa$64,483$31.00
37Maryland$74,041$35.60
38Texas$62,389$29.99
39Nebraska$60,323$29.00
40West Virginia$52,597$25.29
41North Carolina$60,393$29.04
42Florida$62,003$29.81
43Montana$57,874$27.82
44Kentucky$51,090$24.56
45Tennessee$56,781$27.30
46Arkansas$58,146$27.95
47Georgia$61,103$29.38
48South Carolina$53,349$25.65
49Hawaii$58,504$28.13
50Arizona$57,315$27.56
51Missouri$54,376$26.14

Highest paying cities for professors of biology

The highest-paying cities for professors of biology are Rochester, NY, Cambridge, MA, and Tacoma, WA.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Rochester, NY$102,194$49.13
2Cambridge, MA$83,916$40.34
3Tacoma, WA$79,778$38.35
4Lynchburg, VA$66,022$31.74
5Miami, FL$62,590$30.09
6Tyler, TX$62,010$29.81
7Greensboro, NC$60,940$29.30

Professor of biology salary details

A professor of biology's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $142,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average professor of biology salary graph
Average professor of biology salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a professor of biology's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$142,000$11,833$68
75th Percentile$108,000$9,000$52
Average$80,294$6,691$39
25th Percentile$59,000$4,917$28
10th Percentile$45,000$3,750$22

Highest paying professor of biology jobs

The highest paying types of professors of biology are professor, associate professor, and adjunct professor.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Science Faculty Member$70,683$5,890$33.9830,806
Biology Faculty Member$60,278$5,023$28.9812,876
Adjunct Biology Instructor$86,786$7,232$41.7238,331
Biology Instructor$58,811$4,901$28.2737,540
Adjunct Professor$98,821$8,235$47.5122,488
Professor$157,570$13,131$75.7521,861

Which companies pay professors of biology the most?

Professor of biology salaries at Harvard University and UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average professor of biology salary at companies like UMiami Health System and University of Rochester are highly competitive.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1Harvard University$104,769$50.37
2UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS$81,849$39.35
3UMiami Health System$79,202$38.08
4University of Rochester$75,003$36.06
5Rutgers University$73,079$35.13
6University of Texas System$72,253$34.74
7PSEA$70,693$33.99
8University of Houston$70,142$33.72
9Tyler Junior College$64,535$31.03
10Tacoma Community College$59,902$28.80
11Liberty University$58,094$27.93
12Volunteer State Community College$57,710$27.75

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$74,000$73,000$72,000$71,000$70,000$69,000
MaleFemale

Professor of biology salary trends

The average professor of biology salary has risen by $10,778 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average professor of biology earned $69,516 annually, but today, they earn $80,294 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for professors of biology over the last decade.

Compare professor of biology salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average professor of biology salary over time

Compare professor of biology salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Professor of biology salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2026$80,300$38.60+2.7%
2025$78,100$37.57+0.9%
2024$77,400$37.23+5.2%
2023$73,400$35.28+2.0%
2022$71,900$34.57+1.7%

Recently added professor of biology salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Roosevelt UniversityBiology Professor, NTTChicago, IL06/30/2025$60,000
Arizona Western CollegeProfessor of Biology (Temporary)Yuma, AZ05/03/2025$54,134
Washington UniversityProfessor of BiologySaint Louis, MO03/05/2025$416,357
Collin CollegeProfessor, Biology (Fall 2025)McKinney, TX02/13/2025$61,128
South Puget Sound Community CollegeBiology Professor-Tenure TrackOlympia, WA02/12/2025$76,231
Collin County Community CollegeProfessor, Biology (Fall 2025)McKinney, TX02/07/2025$61,128
Hesston CollegeProfessor of BiologyHesston, KS01/17/2025$52,000
California Department of EducationProfessor-BiologySalinas, CA01/15/2025$70,608
BotanyProfessor and Head-Plant and Microbial BiologyNore, MN12/10/2024$135,000
University of MinnesotaProfessor and Head-Plant and Microbial BiologyMinneapolis, MN11/25/2024$135,000

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