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The average salary for a Visiting Assistant Professor in the United States is approximately $72,541 per year, translating to about $35 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on geographical location, years of experience, and the specific academic institution. For example, visiting professors at prestigious universities may earn significantly more than those at smaller colleges.
In terms of state-specific salaries, California, New York, and Massachusetts often offer the highest compensation due to the cost of living and demand for faculty. Conversely, states with lower living costs may provide salaries that reflect local economic conditions.
Additionally, certain fields such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and specialized programs often offer higher salaries compared to humanities disciplines. Understanding these nuances can guide candidates in their job search and career planning.
As academic institutions continue to adapt to changing educational demands, the need for qualified visiting professors remains strong. Prospective candidates should consider various factors, including location and specialization, when evaluating job opportunities.
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The highest-paying states for visiting assistant professors are Oregon, Nevada, and Massachusetts. The lowest average visiting assistant professor salary states are Oklahoma, Arkansas, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $108,577 | $52.20 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $97,260 | $46.76 |
| 3 | Alaska | $82,123 | $39.48 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $86,569 | $41.62 |
| 5 | New York | $83,560 | $40.17 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $92,988 | $44.71 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $83,802 | $40.29 |
| 8 | Maryland | $87,181 | $41.91 |
| 9 | Vermont | $80,481 | $38.69 |
| 10 | Utah | $82,755 | $39.79 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $80,592 | $38.75 |
| 12 | Nevada | $93,725 | $45.06 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $76,223 | $36.65 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $85,955 | $41.32 |
| 15 | California | $88,247 | $42.43 |
| 16 | Washington | $85,909 | $41.30 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $78,685 | $37.83 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $71,359 | $34.31 |
| 19 | Texas | $72,201 | $34.71 |
| 20 | Ohio | $76,185 | $36.63 |
| 21 | Colorado | $70,150 | $33.73 |
| 22 | Indiana | $67,525 | $32.46 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $74,178 | $35.66 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $70,637 | $33.96 |
| 25 | Florida | $71,792 | $34.52 |
| 26 | Virginia | $63,765 | $30.66 |
| 27 | Iowa | $62,636 | $30.11 |
| 28 | Missouri | $68,014 | $32.70 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $63,449 | $30.50 |
| 30 | Georgia | $66,728 | $32.08 |
| 31 | Delaware | $69,812 | $33.56 |
| 32 | Arizona | $69,137 | $33.24 |
| 33 | Idaho | $68,512 | $32.94 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $60,036 | $28.86 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $73,080 | $35.13 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $65,037 | $31.27 |
| 37 | Montana | $55,965 | $26.91 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $60,264 | $28.97 |
| 39 | Alabama | $58,360 | $28.06 |
| 40 | Maine | $59,030 | $28.38 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $62,133 | $29.87 |
| 42 | Michigan | $57,895 | $27.83 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $49,084 | $23.60 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $46,633 | $22.42 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $51,182 | $24.61 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $54,017 | $25.97 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $43,669 | $20.99 |
| 48 | Illinois | $58,430 | $28.09 |
| 49 | Kansas | $57,099 | $27.45 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $52,790 | $25.38 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $53,282 | $25.62 |
The highest-paying cities for visiting assistant professors are Washington, DC, Boston, MA, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $97,434 | $46.84 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $93,214 | $44.81 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $91,931 | $44.20 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $87,170 | $41.91 |
| 5 | College Park, MD | $86,938 | $41.80 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $83,709 | $40.24 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $79,547 | $38.24 |
| 8 | Easton, PA | $77,155 | $37.09 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $73,012 | $35.10 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $72,459 | $34.84 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $70,021 | $33.66 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $68,257 | $32.82 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $67,134 | $32.28 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $66,413 | $31.93 |
| 15 | Iowa City, IA | $62,664 | $30.13 |
| 16 | Blacksburg, VA | $59,741 | $28.72 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $58,638 | $28.19 |
| 18 | East Lansing, MI | $57,017 | $27.41 |
| 19 | Stillwater, OK | $52,948 | $25.46 |
A visiting assistant professor's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $125,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $125,000 | $10,417 | $60 |
| 75th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| Average | $72,541 | $6,045 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
The highest paying types of visiting assistant professors are professor, visiting professor, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty | $80,405 | $6,700 | $38.66 | 21,142 |
| Summer School Teacher | $52,828 | $4,402 | $25.40 | 86,467 |
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $6,922 | $39.94 | 26,791 |
| Resource Teacher | $43,487 | $3,624 | $20.91 | 73,796 |
| French Teacher | $49,442 | $4,120 | $23.77 | 54,716 |
| Social Studies Teacher | $49,725 | $4,144 | $23.91 | 94,087 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for visiting assistant professors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David McMahan Ph.D.
Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College
Top companies hiring visiting assistant professors now:
Visiting assistant professor salaries at University of Illinois System and Harvey Mudd College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average visiting assistant professor salary at companies like Tulane University and Middlebury College are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois System | $158,754 | $76.32 |
| 2 | Harvey Mudd College | $153,754 | $73.92 |
| 3 | Tulane University | $146,961 | $70.65 |
| 4 | Middlebury College | $138,416 | $66.55 |
| 5 | Pace University | $134,467 | $64.65 |
| 6 | Johns Hopkins University | $130,298 | $62.64 |
| 7 | Loyola University New Orleans | $129,199 | $62.11 |
| 8 | Harvard University | $126,206 | $60.68 |
| 9 | Providence College | $122,223 | $58.76 |
| 10 | University Surgical Associates | $116,270 | $55.90 |
| 11 | The George Washington University | $115,496 | $55.53 |
| 12 | LA State University Continuing | $113,209 | $54.43 |
| 13 | Cornell University | $112,355 | $54.02 |
| 14 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $111,910 | $53.80 |
| 15 | Georgetown University | $110,427 | $53.09 |
| 16 | American Chemical Society | $108,028 | $51.94 |
| 17 | Northeastern University | $107,765 | $51.81 |
| 18 | IUPUI | $107,491 | $51.68 |
| 19 | University of Nevada, Reno | $106,385 | $51.15 |
| 20 | Saint Louis University | $106,350 | $51.13 |
The average visiting assistant professor salary has risen by $14,078 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average visiting assistant professor earned $58,463 annually, but today, they earn $72,541 a year. That works out to a 0% change in pay for visiting assistant professors over the last decade.
Compare visiting assistant professor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare visiting assistant professor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $72,500 | $34.88 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $71,200 | $34.25 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | $71,300 | $34.27 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | $71,600 | $34.45 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | $72,700 | $34.97 | +8.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Colorado | Visiting Assistant Professor: Fuel Technology and Alternative Fuels | Pueblo, CO | 06/29/2025 | $68,300 |
| University of North Dakota | Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor | Grand Forks, ND | 06/28/2025 | $90,000 |
| Texas Woman's University | Visiting Assistant Professor-Human Sciences | Denton, TX | 06/28/2025 | $55,000 |
| TWU | Visiting Assistant Professor-Human Sciences | Denton, TX | 06/28/2025 | $55,000 |
| State of Virginia | Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice, Graphic Design | Blacksburg, VA | 06/28/2025 | $65,000 |
| Skidmore College | Visiting Assistant Professor In Geographic Information Systems | Saratoga Springs, NY | 06/27/2025 | $66,000 |
| Union Group | Visiting Assistant Professor (Half-Time) of Clinical/Counseling | Schenectady, NY | 06/27/2025 | $37,600 |
| Roosevelt University | Visiting Assistant Professor, Biology and Biochemistry | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Kansas State University | Visiting Assistant Professor | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $67,500 |
| Boise State University | Visiting Assistant Professor-Kinesiology | Boise, ID | 06/25/2025 | $65,000 |
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