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The average salary for a Professor of Languages stands at $67,189 per year, or approximately $32 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on various factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific institution of employment. For instance, professors in urban areas or prestigious universities may earn considerably more than their counterparts in rural settings.
When examining salaries by state, professors in California and New York typically see higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for language education. In contrast, states like Idaho and Arkansas may offer lower salary ranges.
The job outlook for language professors remains positive, with opportunities expanding in online education and community colleges. This growth presents an excellent chance for candidates to secure positions in various educational settings.
Overall, aspiring language professors should consider where they can maximize their earnings and align their career goals with the opportunities available across the country.
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The average professor of languages salary in New York, Delaware, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average professor of languages salary states are Tennessee, Georgia, and New Mexico.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $94,010 | $45.20 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $91,064 | $43.78 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $87,138 | $41.89 |
| 4 | Vermont | $73,470 | $35.32 |
| 5 | Oregon | $74,986 | $36.05 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $86,702 | $41.68 |
| 7 | Michigan | $74,526 | $35.83 |
| 8 | Delaware | $87,162 | $41.90 |
| 9 | Nevada | $86,222 | $41.45 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $68,224 | $32.80 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $77,529 | $37.27 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $62,447 | $30.02 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $83,602 | $40.19 |
| 14 | California | $85,373 | $41.04 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $72,372 | $34.79 |
| 16 | Montana | $68,863 | $33.11 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $62,152 | $29.88 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $65,258 | $31.37 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $62,818 | $30.20 |
| 20 | Maine | $65,629 | $31.55 |
| 21 | Washington | $71,529 | $34.39 |
| 22 | Utah | $62,624 | $30.11 |
| 23 | Indiana | $66,757 | $32.09 |
| 24 | Virginia | $64,368 | $30.95 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $68,441 | $32.90 |
| 26 | Alaska | $62,679 | $30.13 |
| 27 | Maryland | $71,279 | $34.27 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $56,526 | $27.18 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $62,356 | $29.98 |
| 30 | Ohio | $61,421 | $29.53 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $57,066 | $27.44 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $54,782 | $26.34 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $58,271 | $28.01 |
| 34 | Colorado | $55,113 | $26.50 |
| 35 | Alabama | $51,461 | $24.74 |
| 36 | Kansas | $52,321 | $25.15 |
| 37 | Illinois | $56,062 | $26.95 |
| 38 | Iowa | $50,420 | $24.24 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| 40 | Arizona | $55,284 | $26.58 |
| 41 | Texas | $46,445 | $22.33 |
| 42 | Florida | $52,786 | $25.38 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $59,852 | $28.77 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $51,521 | $24.77 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $49,602 | $23.85 |
| 46 | Missouri | $51,381 | $24.70 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $47,411 | $22.79 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $38,661 | $18.59 |
| 50 | Georgia | $47,565 | $22.87 |
| 51 | Idaho | $43,185 | $20.76 |
The highest-paying cities for professors of languages are New York, NY, Cambridge, MA, and Vancouver, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $94,454 | $45.41 |
| 2 | Cambridge, MA | $77,358 | $37.19 |
| 3 | Vancouver, WA | $72,677 | $34.94 |
| 4 | Notre Dame, IN | $69,150 | $33.25 |
| 5 | Berrien Springs, MI | $69,069 | $33.21 |
| 6 | Hampton, VA | $64,703 | $31.11 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $56,494 | $27.16 |
A professor of languages's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $116,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $116,000 | $9,667 | $56 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| Average | $67,189 | $5,599 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
The highest paying types of professors of languages are professor, adjunct professor, and creative writing instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct English Instructor | $55,901 | $4,658 | $26.88 | 38,052 |
| English Instructor | $53,915 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 27,111 |
| ESL Instructor | $53,226 | $4,436 | $25.59 | 26,173 |
| English As A Second Language Teacher | $55,428 | $4,619 | $26.65 | 97,211 |
| English As A Second Language Instructor | $52,775 | $4,398 | $25.37 | 69,978 |
| English Language Teacher | $57,831 | $4,819 | $27.80 | 74,779 |
Top companies hiring professors of languages now:
Professor of languages salaries at Harvard University and University of Notre Dame are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average professor of languages salary at companies like Clark College and Hampton University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | $120,301 | $57.84 |
| 2 | University of Notre Dame | $72,057 | $34.64 |
| 3 | Clark College | $56,647 | $27.23 |
| 4 | Hampton University | $52,311 | $25.15 |
| 5 | Andrews University | $52,194 | $25.09 |
The average professor of languages salary has risen by $7,391 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average professor of languages earned $59,798 annually, but today, they earn $67,189 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for professors of languages over the last decade.
Compare professor of languages salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare professor of languages salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $67,200 | $32.30 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | $66,700 | $32.06 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $64,800 | $31.17 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $63,200 | $30.39 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $62,100 | $29.84 | +2.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem-Keizer School District | Mathematics, Dual Language-Mckay | Salem, OR | 06/10/2025 | $50,111 |
| Salem-Keizer School District | Mathematics, Dual Language-Mckay | Salem, OR | 05/11/2025 | $50,111 |
| Oregon Public Schools | Mathematics, Dual Language-Mckay | Salem, OR | 05/11/2025 | $50,111 |
| Jjc | Professor, English/World Languages | Joliet, IL | 03/28/2025 | $61,912 |
| Relay Graduate School of Education | Professor, Curriculum Design, Secondary English Language Arts | New York, NY | 02/25/2025 | $87,057 |
| Tarleton State University | Professor & Department Head-English and Languages | Austin, TX | 10/12/2024 | $109,000 |
| Cuny | Open Rank Professor-Speech-Language Pathology | New York, NY | 10/03/2024 | $107,789 |
| California Department of Education | American Sign Language Professor Temporary, Non-Tenure Track Academic Year | Imperial, CA | 02/13/2024 | $81,592 |
| University of Montana | Professor, Indonesian Language and Culture Instructor | McChord Air Force Base, WA | 12/01/2023 | $67,317 |
| University of Montana | Professor, Indonesian Language and Culture Instructor | McChord Air Force Base, WA | 12/01/2023 | $67,317 |
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