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What is a science professor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Quoted expert
Estella Atekwana Ph.D.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a science professor. For example, did you know that they make an average of $40.84 an hour? That's $84,942 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 12% and produce 159,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a science professor?

Estella Atekwana Ph.D.Estella Atekwana Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Dean, University of Delaware

There's no question entering the job market this year has been challenging. The effects of the pandemic have been felt in every industry, and some of the fields in which geoscientists make a living, like the energy market, are subject to uncertainty for both economic and political reasons. But in one sense, geoscientists are in a better position than many because of the relevance of the geosciences to society. The education we provide students -a knowledge of geoscience across disciplinary boundaries-and the development of soft skills such as team work, working collaboratively, problem solving, critical thinking, communication and more-are what industry employers are seeking, and they help students navigate the rapidly changing job landscape.
ScoreScience ProfessorUS Average
Salary
6.6

Avg. Salary $84,942

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.2

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 11.31%

Black or African American 7.06%

Hispanic or Latino 10.07%

Unknown 4.92%

White 66.36%

Gender

female 28.25%

male 71.75%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
5.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Science professor career paths

Key steps to become a science professor

  1. Explore science professor education requirements

    Most common science professor degrees

    Bachelor's

    56.4 %

    Master's

    24.9 %

    Doctorate

    14.3 %

  2. Start to develop specific science professor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Student Learning21.28%
    Professional Development18.38%
    Science Courses7.75%
    Anatomy7.40%
    Physiology6.48%
    Show more

  3. Research science professor duties and responsibilities

    • Lead outreach to community and statewide stakeholders in the PPCC entrepreneurship program.
    • Instruct and mentore pathophysiology, anatomy/physiology, and medical ethics students
    • Develop contextually sensitive evidence aggregation methods from patient records that consider whole patients over time, rather than just linguistic correctness.
    • Create many Mathematica movies to help students understand important concepts in calculus.

  4. Apply for science professor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a science professor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first science professor job

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Average science professor salary

The average science professor salary in the United States is $84,942 per year or $41 per hour. Science professor salaries range between $42,000 and $170,000 per year.

Average science professor salary
$84,942 Yearly
$40.84 hourly
More science professor salary info

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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