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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Religious Studies Professor is approximately $85,735 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the type of institution. Professors in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living.
For instance, the highest-paying states for this profession include:
Additionally, professors with advanced degrees, extensive teaching experience, or those who publish research may command higher salaries. The role not only involves teaching but also mentoring students and contributing to academic research, which can enhance career prospects. Various institutions, from community colleges to universities, offer positions, each with unique compensation packages. Understanding these dynamics can help aspiring professors make informed career choices in the field of religious studies.
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The highest-paying states for religious studies professors are Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The lowest average religious studies professor salary states are Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $128,296 | $61.68 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $131,801 | $63.37 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $127,854 | $61.47 |
| 4 | New York | $129,360 | $62.19 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $119,664 | $57.53 |
| 6 | Maine | $127,770 | $61.43 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $131,428 | $63.19 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $131,344 | $63.15 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $128,644 | $61.85 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $130,499 | $62.74 |
| 11 | Oregon | $121,834 | $58.57 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $120,731 | $58.04 |
| 13 | Ohio | $120,914 | $58.13 |
| 14 | Virginia | $121,718 | $58.52 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $124,584 | $59.90 |
| 16 | Delaware | $127,096 | $61.10 |
| 17 | Utah | $113,644 | $54.64 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $110,191 | $52.98 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $119,014 | $57.22 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $110,435 | $53.09 |
| 21 | Alaska | $116,181 | $55.86 |
| 22 | Washington | $121,140 | $58.24 |
| 23 | Iowa | $110,356 | $53.06 |
| 24 | Maryland | $125,281 | $60.23 |
| 25 | Indiana | $115,449 | $55.50 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $116,440 | $55.98 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $112,324 | $54.00 |
| 28 | Idaho | $116,803 | $56.16 |
| 29 | Illinois | $116,350 | $55.94 |
| 30 | Montana | $111,485 | $53.60 |
| 31 | Michigan | $107,169 | $51.52 |
| 32 | Nevada | $114,446 | $55.02 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $107,477 | $51.67 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $106,324 | $51.12 |
| 35 | Colorado | $105,834 | $50.88 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $98,929 | $47.56 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $104,847 | $50.41 |
| 38 | Alabama | $99,054 | $47.62 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $97,474 | $46.86 |
| 40 | Kansas | $102,647 | $49.35 |
| 41 | Texas | $97,725 | $46.98 |
| 42 | California | $111,099 | $53.41 |
| 43 | Missouri | $104,995 | $50.48 |
| 44 | Arizona | $105,383 | $50.66 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $84,814 | $40.78 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $86,687 | $41.68 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $87,912 | $42.27 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $83,595 | $40.19 |
| 49 | Florida | $74,104 | $35.63 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $71,287 | $34.27 |
| 51 | Georgia | $84,371 | $40.56 |
The highest-paying cities for religious studies professors are Morgantown, WV, Charlottesville, VA, and Eugene, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgantown, WV | $137,750 | $66.23 |
| 2 | Charlottesville, VA | $135,713 | $65.25 |
| 3 | Eugene, OR | $125,828 | $60.49 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $124,626 | $59.92 |
| 5 | Arlington, TX | $103,262 | $49.65 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $69,610 | $33.47 |
A religious studies professor's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $204,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $204,000 | $17,000 | $98 |
| 75th Percentile | $135,000 | $11,250 | $65 |
| Average | $85,735 | $7,145 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
The highest paying types of religious studies professors are professor, gender studies professor, and asian studies professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
Top companies hiring religious studies professors now:
Religious studies professor salaries at UMiami Health System and UC Santa Barbara are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average religious studies professor salary at companies like Florida International University and Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. Are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UMiami Health System | $169,560 | $81.52 |
| 2 | UC Santa Barbara | $116,714 | $56.11 |
| 3 | Florida International University | $101,469 | $48.78 |
| 4 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| 5 | San Jose State University | $98,397 | $47.31 |
| 6 | NEWMAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ARLINGTON | $93,152 | $44.78 |
| 7 | University of Virginia | $91,652 | $44.06 |
| 8 | West Virginia University | $86,090 | $41.39 |
| 9 | Al Arqam Islamic School | $46,648 | $22.43 |
The average religious studies professor salary has risen by $10,559 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average religious studies professor earned $75,176 annually, but today, they earn $85,735 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for religious studies professors over the last decade.
Compare religious studies professor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare religious studies professor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,700 | $41.22 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $83,800 | $40.29 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $81,000 | $38.92 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $78,500 | $37.76 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | $79,400 | $38.18 | +1.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University System | Religious Studies, Lecturer Pool | Fullerton, CA | 06/06/2025 | $66,084 |
| CSU Careers | AY Lecturer Pool-Humanities and Religious Studies | Sacramento, CA | 04/08/2025 | $66,084 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Lecturer-Religious Studies | Greensboro, NC | 03/04/2025 | $53,220 |
| Uacareers | Visiting Lecturer, Religious Studies and Classics | Tucson, AZ | 02/18/2025 | $45,000 |
| Scholarshipdb | Lecturer In Religious Studies (Pooled Search) | Santa Barbara, CA | 02/17/2025 | $87,500 |
| San Jose State University | Humanities Lecturer Pool-Comparative Religious Studies | San Jose, CA | 12/18/2024 | $103,116 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Term Open Rank Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies | Richmond, VA | 11/23/2024 | $76,000 |
| California State University | AY Lecturer Pool-Humanities and Religious Studies | Sacramento, CA | 10/24/2024 | $60,084 |
| Morgan State University | Lecturer-Philosophy and Religious Studies | Baltimore, MD | 10/10/2024 | $50,000 |
| California State University, Sacramento | AY Lecturer Pool-Humanities and Religious Studies | Sacramento, CA | 10/09/2024 | $60,084 |
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