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Science professor salary
Average science professor salary
$84,942
Understanding Science Professor Salaries
The salary of a Science Professor varies based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field of study. On average, a science professor earns around $84,942 per year, translating to approximately $41 per hour. This figure can differ significantly by state and institution type.
Highest Paying States for Science Professors
States such as California, New York, and Massachusetts consistently rank among the highest paying for science professors, with salaries often exceeding $100,000. In contrast, regions with lower costs of living may offer salaries closer to the national average.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Science professors with advanced degrees or specialized expertise in high-demand areas such as biotechnology or environmental science may see increased earning opportunities. Additionally, academic roles that involve research or administrative responsibilities can lead to higher compensation.
For those considering a career as a science professor, understanding these salary dynamics and the factors influencing pay is essential for making informed career decisions.
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Where can a Science Professor earn more?
Science professor salary estimates from across the web
Average science professor salary by state
The highest-paying states for science professors are Utah, California, and New York. The lowest average science professor salary states are Florida, Texas, and Arizona.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for science professors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $129,460 | $62.24 |
| 2 | Mississippi | $117,889 | $56.68 |
| 3 | Utah | $139,708 | $67.17 |
| 4 | Oregon | $115,040 | $55.31 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $108,528 | $52.18 |
| 6 | Michigan | $108,220 | $52.03 |
| 7 | Alaska | $113,325 | $54.48 |
| 8 | California | $131,513 | $63.23 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $108,664 | $52.24 |
| 10 | Nevada | $107,255 | $51.56 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $94,158 | $45.27 |
| 12 | Delaware | $107,422 | $51.65 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $105,830 | $50.88 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $103,016 | $49.53 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $98,311 | $47.26 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $106,193 | $51.05 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $100,700 | $48.41 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $98,368 | $47.29 |
| 19 | Maine | $94,163 | $45.27 |
| 20 | Vermont | $92,890 | $44.66 |
| 21 | Indiana | $103,537 | $49.78 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $92,123 | $44.29 |
| 23 | Maryland | $103,577 | $49.80 |
| 24 | Iowa | $91,671 | $44.07 |
| 25 | Idaho | $94,774 | $45.56 |
| 26 | Washington | $100,444 | $48.29 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $97,785 | $47.01 |
| 28 | Colorado | $89,163 | $42.87 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $91,640 | $44.06 |
| 30 | Kansas | $91,574 | $44.03 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $89,298 | $42.93 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $84,396 | $40.58 |
| 33 | Alabama | $85,804 | $41.25 |
| 34 | Georgia | $92,956 | $44.69 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $76,797 | $36.92 |
| 36 | Illinois | $89,845 | $43.19 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $89,304 | $42.93 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $79,108 | $38.03 |
| 39 | Virginia | $83,802 | $40.29 |
| 40 | Ohio | $87,399 | $42.02 |
| 41 | Montana | $74,709 | $35.92 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $67,588 | $32.49 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $82,388 | $39.61 |
| 44 | Missouri | $82,865 | $39.84 |
| 45 | Texas | $69,793 | $33.55 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $80,415 | $38.66 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $78,158 | $37.58 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $56,856 | $27.33 |
| 49 | Florida | $70,635 | $33.96 |
| 50 | Arizona | $68,552 | $32.96 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $63,700 | $30.63 |
Highest paying cities for science professors
The highest-paying cities for science professors are New York, NY, Anaheim, CA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $139,156 | $66.90 |
| 2 | Anaheim, CA | $129,898 | $62.45 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $108,866 | $52.34 |
| 4 | Bethesda, MD | $105,700 | $50.82 |
| 5 | Tacoma, WA | $101,936 | $49.01 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $93,651 | $45.02 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $88,574 | $42.58 |
| 8 | Charlottesville, VA | $84,237 | $40.50 |
| 9 | Mobile, AL | $83,613 | $40.20 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $74,192 | $35.67 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $72,350 | $34.78 |
| 12 | Tempe, AZ | $68,941 | $33.14 |
| 13 | Mayagez, PR | $66,054 | $31.76 |
Science professor salary details
A science professor's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $170,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a science professor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $170,000 | $14,167 | $82 |
| 75th Percentile | $122,000 | $10,167 | $59 |
| Average | $84,942 | $7,079 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
Highest paying science professor jobs
The highest paying types of science professors are professor, associate professor, and adjunct professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology Instructor | $58,811 | $4,901 | $28.27 | 37,540 |
| Biology Faculty Member | $60,278 | $5,023 | $28.98 | 12,876 |
| Adjunct Biology Instructor | $86,786 | $7,232 | $41.72 | 38,331 |
| Science Faculty Member | $70,683 | $5,890 | $33.98 | 30,806 |
| Computer Science Tutor | $30,869 | $2,572 | $14.84 | 39,719 |
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
Top companies hiring science professors now:
Which companies pay science professors the most?
Science professor salaries at New York University and Emory University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average science professor salary at companies like Columbia University in the City of New York and Emory Healthcare are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University | $146,620 | $70.49 |
| 2 | Emory University | $130,766 | $62.87 |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $122,037 | $58.67 |
| 4 | Emory Healthcare | $119,679 | $57.54 |
| 5 | UMiami Health System | $113,508 | $54.57 |
| 6 | UWorld | $109,193 | $52.50 |
| 7 | South Dakota State University | $89,586 | $43.07 |
| 8 | University of Advancing Technology | $84,518 | $40.63 |
| 9 | University of Virginia | $83,125 | $39.96 |
| 10 | Prince George's County Memorial Library System | $81,082 | $38.98 |
| 11 | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | $80,176 | $38.55 |
| 12 | University Of South Dakota Foundation | $78,895 | $37.93 |
| 13 | Toledo Public Schools | $74,854 | $35.99 |
| 14 | Broward County Public Schools | $66,928 | $32.18 |
| 15 | Orange County High School | $65,287 | $31.39 |
| 16 | Alfred University | $64,976 | $31.24 |
| 17 | Nyc Parks | $64,604 | $31.06 |
| 18 | Tacoma Community College | $61,771 | $29.70 |
| 19 | Andrews University | $54,667 | $26.28 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Science professor salary trends
The average science professor salary has risen by $11,402 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average science professor earned $73,540 annually, but today, they earn $84,942 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for science professors over the last decade.
Compare science professor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average science professor salary over time
Compare science professor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Science professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,900 | $40.84 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $82,700 | $39.74 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $81,900 | $39.38 | +5.2% |
| 2022 | $77,600 | $37.33 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $76,100 | $36.57 | +1.7% |
Recently added science professor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Advancing Technology | Acs/Data Science Professor-or Adjunct | Tempe, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $36,250 |
| Mesa County Valley School District 51 | Science | Grand Junction, CO | 06/18/2025 | $50,015 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | Science (Broadfield) | Three Forks, MT | 06/11/2025 | $41,613 |
| Director of Student Health In Vallejo, California | Foundational Biomedical Sciences Faculty, Professor Series | Vallejo, CA | 06/10/2025 | $110,000 |
| Rutgers University | Professor-Chemical and Data Science-Tenured | Piscataway, NJ | 06/02/2025 | $129,596 |
| Port Arthur Independent School District (Tx | Science) | Port Arthur, TX | 05/28/2025 | $53,400 |
| California Department of Education | Paraeducator II | (JR. High Science) | Santa Clarita Location School Year | Los Angeles, CA | 05/24/2025 | $55,243 |
| Rutgers University | Professor-Chemical and Data Science-Tenured | Piscataway, NJ | 05/24/2025 | $129,596 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | Science (Broadfield) | Great Falls, MT | 05/24/2025 | $40,701 |
| University of Advancing Technology | Acs/Data Science Professor-Adjunct | Tempe, AZ | 05/16/2025 | $36,000 |
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