While the average college professor earns $168,870 annually, the answer to ‘How much do professors make?’ varies widely based on institution type, location, and field.
For instance, how much does a university professor make in California differ significantly from other states?
This article breaks down the earning potential of college professors in different contexts to help you understand how much professors at universities, community colleges, and elite institutions earn annually, hourly, and monthly.
With opportunities for six-figure incomes, the profession offers financial stability for those with the right qualifications and experience.
Average College Professor Salary
- College professors make an average of $168,870 in the United States as of April 2024.
- College professors make an average of $5,000 to $10,000 per month.
- Professors at private universities earn significantly more, with an average of $196,353, compared to $145,112 at public universities and $136,928 at religious institutions. (AAUP)
- Law professors are the highest-paid college professors, with an average salary of $186,468 as of April 2024.
- College professors are paid the highest in California at $184,725 as of 2024.
- U.S. college professors typically earn between $60,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on their qualifications and the institution
How Much Do College Professors Make On Average?
US college professors earn an average of $168,870 annually, with salaries ranging from $80,314 to $257,426 as of April 2024.
Meanwhile, according to Zippia, the average annual salary of a college professor in the United States is $157,570. Additionally, the average salary range for college professors in the United States is typically between $88,000 and $280,000, depending on their experience level, expertise, and other factors.
On the other hand, the American Association of University Professors stated that the average salary of professors in the academic year 2022- 23 was $108,043.
Source: Salary.com, Zippia, American Association of University Professors.
How Much Do College Professors Make Per Hour?
The college professors earn an average of $75.75 per hour as of 2024.
However, this number may vary according to the state, level of education, expertise, experience, and more.
Source: Zippia
How Much Does a College Professor Make With a PhD?: PhD vs. Non-PhD
Advanced qualifications like a PhD often lead to higher salaries.
Professors with a PhD typically earn 10–20% more than those without one, ranging from $80,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on the institution.
Professors’ Salary By Major
Law professors remain the highest earners, with an annual average of $186,468, nearly doubling the salary of drama professors, who earn around $100,985 annually.
This highlights how specific fields command significantly different compensation.
According to Salary.com, the average salary of an English professor in the United States is $100,664 as of April 2024, while their hourly rate is $48.40.
At the same time, the average salary of a Dentistry professor is $146,282, while a law professor makes $186,468 annually.
The average salary earned by college professors varies greatly based on the subjects and the major they teach.
The following table displays the average salary of the college professors teaching different majors.
| Major | Average Salary of Professor | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| English | $100,664 | $48.40 |
| History | $108,974 | $52.39 |
| Law | $186,468 | $89.65 |
| Mathematics | $111,492 | $53.60 |
| Architecture | $121,889 | $58.60 |
| Chemistry | $112,687 | $54.18 |
| Communication | $105,306 | $50.63 |
| Dentistry | $146,282 | $70.33 |
| Drama | $100,985 | $48.55 |
| Economics | $129,241 | $62.14 |
Source: Salary.com
College Professor Average Salary By Job Title
The college professors with years of experience made $149,629 in the academic year 2022-23. Meanwhile, the Associate Professors received a salary of $101,941, and Assistant Professors received an average salary of $88,597.
The following table displays the average salary of college professors recorded in 2022-23 according to their Job titles.
| Job Title | Average Salary Of Professors |
|---|---|
| Professor | $149,629 |
| Associate Professor | $101,941 |
| Assistant Professor | $88,597 |
| Instructor | $66,343 |
| Lecturer | $72,995 |
| No Rank | $68,990 |
According to another study published by NCES, Assistant Professors earned an average salary of $77,842 in private institutions in the academic year 2020-21. At the same time, Assistant professors made $77,954 in Public institutions.
Comparatively, the Associate professors earned $92,606 in a private institute and $89,212 in a public institute.
Further, the professors with good experience earned $141,017 on average in private institutions and $121,057 in public institutes in the academic year 2020-21.
Sources: American Association of University Professors, NCES, Online University.
College Professors’ Salary By Institution Type
According to the American Association of University Professors, Professors earn an average salary of $103,190 in public institutions in the academic year 2022-2023.
Private institutions tend to pay more, averaging $132,225 annually, compared to religiously affiliated institutions, which average $97,397.
Further, the professors made $132,225 in private or independent institutions and $97,397 in religiously affiliated institutions in the same year.
On the other hand, associate Professors made $101,941 on average in the Academic year 2022-23.
The following table provides further details about the average professor salary by institution type recorded for the academic year 2022-2023.
| Professor Job Title | Public Institution | Private Or Independent Institute | Religiously Affiliated Institute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | $140,426 | $188,375 | $131,600 |
| Associate Professor | $100,126 | $115,557 | $93,337 |
| Assistant Professor | $87,287 | $100,610 | $79,388 |
| Instructor | $62,538 | $76,925 | $69,735 |
| Lecturer | $68,781 | $90,251 | $63,913 |
| No Rank | $68,480 | $72,438 | $68,742 |
| Average | $103,190 | $132,225 | $97,397 |
Source: American Association of University Professors.
The type of institution significantly impacts earnings.
For instance, if you are wondering how much does a community college professor make in California? Community college professors in California typically earn between $70,000 and $90,000 annually, depending on experience.
Meanwhile, how much do professors make at community college in other states might be slightly lower. Conversely, university professors often earn higher salaries.
If you’re wondering how much does a university professor makes in California, the answer can exceed $120,000 for experienced faculty.
College Professor Salary By University
College professors who teach students enrolled in doctoral degrees made an average of $120,246 in the academic year 2022-23.
The highest salary received by college professors teaching doctorate students was $169,821.
In the same academic year, a professor teaching a master’s degree received an average salary of $87,479.
Here are further details about the average salary of the college professors teaching different degrees.
| Degree/ University | Salary of College Professor |
|---|---|
| Doctoral | $120,246 |
| Master’s | $87,479 |
| Baccalaureate | $87,612 |
| Associate’s with ranks | $77,103 |
| Associate’s without ranks | $79,858 |
Source: American Association of University Professors.
Elite institutions like Harvard often pay their professors significantly more.
Full professors at Harvard can earn upwards of $200,000 annually, while assistant and associate professors make slightly less. This places them among the highest-paid educators in the country.
Salary Of Adjunct Professors
Adjunct Faculty make an average of $83,069 in the United States in 2024. Adjunct professors are also known as visiting professors.
At the same time, Adjunct Faculty members make an average of $60,817 and have an hourly rate of $29.24.
Besides, the Faculty members earn an average of $102,849 per year.
The following table displays the highest-paying professor jobs in the United States and how much do college professors make an hour.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $39.94 |
| Faculty | $80,405 | $38.66 |
| Adjunct Faculty Member | $60,817 | $29.24 |
| Faculty member | $102,849 | $49.45 |
Source: Zippia.
Professors Salary By State
California offers the highest average professor salary of $184,725 per year, translating to an hourly rate of $88.81.
Other top-paying states include Utah at $179,789 and New York at $179,258, with notable cost differences impacting take-home pay.
Meanwhile, the professors in Utah earn the second-highest average salary of $179,789. New York comes in third place with an hourly salary of $86.18 and an average salary of $179,258.
The following table displays the states with the highest average salary for College Professors.
| State | Average Salary of Professor | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| California | $184,725 | $88.81 |
| Utah | $179,789 | $86.44 |
| New York | $179,258 | $86.18 |
| Connecticut | $175,104 | $84.18 |
| District of Columbia | $170,189 | $81.82 |
| Massachusetts | $169,102 | $81.30 |
| North Dakota | $166,261 | $79.93 |
| Alabama | $162,175 | $77.97 |
| Michigan | $161,286 | $77.54 |
| Oklahoma | $160,897 | $77.35 |
Source: Zippia.
Hawaii has the lowest average professor salary in the United States at $106,075.
Wisconsin has the second-lowest average professor salary of $115,257 and an hourly rate of $55.41.
The following table displays further details about the states that provide the lowest average salary to the professors.
| State | Average Professor Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $106,075 | $51.00 |
| Wisconsin | $115,257 | $55.41 |
| Vermont | $121,660 | $58.49 |
| Illinois | $123,891 | $59.56 |
| Florida | $125,167 | $60.18 |
| Tennessee | $127,349 | $61.23 |
| New Hampshire | $130,081 | $62.54 |
| Delaware | $131,133 | $63.04 |
| Idaho | $132,414 | $63.66 |
| South Carolina | $132,732 | $63.81 |
Source: Zippia.
More Statistics Read On College:
Conclusion: College professors in the U.S. earn an average of $168,870 per year
In conclusion, the question of college professor salary has many answers depending on factors like location, institution type, and qualifications.
In California, university professors earn an average of $184,725 annually, while community college professors in the state make around $77,500 to $135,000, depending on experience and institution.
Professors at Harvard University have an average annual salary of $169,000, with potential earnings ranging between $127,000 and $231,000.
Those with a PhD earn an average of $103,803 annually, but salaries can exceed $120,000 at doctoral universities.
On an hourly basis, college professors earn an average of $75.75, while community college professors often earn between $39 and $65 per hour.
Monthly salaries average between $8,000 and $14,000, with higher ranges for experienced professors or those in high-paying states like New York and Massachusetts.
FAQs
College professors can earn well, with an average salary of $168,870 annually, though earnings depend on expertise, tenure, and institution.
College professors can make good money. On average, college professors make $168,870 as of April 2024. However, your salary after becoming a professor may vary according to your degree, education level, and years of experience.
Law professors are the highest paid, earning an average of $186,468 annually.
Most professors typically require a PhD, but some colleges hire master’s degree holders for part-time or non-tenure positions.
Professors in top-paying fields like law and business or at prestigious universities can earn $200,000 or more annually.
