There might be more lucrative professions than teaching, but if you’re considering becoming a college professor, you can earn a comfortable salary. The average national salary for a full-time college professor was $97,762 in 2022-23, according to the National Education Association’s 2024 report, Educator Pay in America. That’s a 4% increase over the 2021-22 school year and higher than the average pay for educators working in elementary, middle, and high schools.
However, pay varies depending on a number of factors, including your faculty rank, the type of institution where you work, and even the subject matter you teach. Whether you’re considering becoming a professor or just curious about professor salaries, read on for more information about how you might benefit financially from being a professor.
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What Do College Professors Do?
What exactly do college professors do all day? Their typical duties include:
Teaching
College professors teach courses related to their areas of expertise and interest, and grade assignments, papers, and exams. They develop a curriculum, select textbooks, and create assignments and lecture notes. They may also run labs or research spaces on campus and attend professional conferences and training.
Conducting Research
Many professors conduct research, which means they make contributions to their field in the form of designing studies, collecting data, and publishing in academic journals.
Advising Students
Professors often serve as advisors to their students, guiding them on course selection and their future careers. They may even serve as connections between former and current students.
Serving in Leadership Positions
Professors could be asked to serve on committees to benefit specific areas of the college or university. This might involve shaping policy and the curriculum of their respective area by sitting in on departmental meetings. They may also sit on the hiring committee for new faculty members.
Recruiting
In many cases, small colleges need their professors to meet with prospective students to “sell” the college. They also serve as community engagement and brand ambassadors and help familiarize students with their programs and teaching style.
As they gain seniority, professors might choose when they want to teach their classes. They may also have the advantage of choosing sabbatical leave, which refers to time off related to research or other academic activities.
How Much Do Starting College Professors Make a Year?
A typical entry-level professor makes around $38 per hour. However, not every educator is paid by the hour. For instance, if you’re a part-time adjunct professor, you might get paid based on the number of classes you teach. If you’re a full-time lecturer who can’t take advantage of the tenure track, then you may get paid an annual salary.
Tools like a budget planner app can help you make the most of your income.
Recommended: What Is a Good Entry-Level Salary?
What Is the Average Salary for a College Professor?
By and large, professors who work full time at a larger institution can make a decent salary. But you may be able to command even more money if you’re willing to relocate to a state where educators earn more. Below, we break down the average salary for college professors by state:
| State | Average Yearly Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $101,236 |
| Alaska | $71,412 |
| Arizona | $53,825 |
| Arkansas | $48,816 |
| California | $73,483 |
| Colorado | $77,512 |
| Connecticut | $73,104 |
| Delaware | $46,384 |
| Florida | $48,694 |
| Georgia | $45,153 |
| Hawaii | $109,872 |
| Idaho | $63,180 |
| Illinois | $61,537 |
| Indiana | $52,756 |
| Iowa | $67,356 |
| Kansas | $66,180 |
| Kentucky | $65,064 |
| Louisiana | $66,648 |
| Maine | $66,276 |
| Maryland | $104,111 |
| Massachusetts | $83,780 |
| Michigan | $45,564 |
| Minnesota | $47,528 |
| Mississippi | $62,976 |
| Missouri | $76,068 |
| Montana | $63,504 |
| Nebraska | $66,288 |
| Nevada | $68,400 |
| New Hampshire | $71,352 |
| New Jersey | $73,512 |
| New Mexico | $54,084 |
| New York | $59,411 |
| North Carolina | $77,242 |
| North Dakota | $68,439 |
| Ohio | $68,208 |
| Oklahoma | $42,846 |
| Oregon | $57,263 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,977 |
| Rhode Island | $69,072 |
| South Carolina | $59,806 |
| South Dakota | $65,040 |
| Tennessee | $55,034 |
| Texas | $59,294 |
| Utah | $66,000 |
| Vermont | $66,756 |
| Virginia | $88,641 |
| Washington | $58,595 |
| West Virginia | $63,972 |
| Wisconsin | $52,482 |
| Wyoming | $76,600 |
Source: Indeed.com
If you’re wondering how these salaries compare to other salaries in your state, it can be helpful to check out the highest-paying jobs by state.
Recommended: Is $100,000 a Good Salary?
College Professor Job Considerations for Pay & Benefits
Not every institution releases information on the benefits and pay their faculty receives. But compensation surveys like the ones conducted by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) offer some details.
An analysis of those two surveys revealed that the most common benefits for professors include employer contributions to various types of retirement accounts and health insurance. Professors also often receive other compensation and fringe benefits, including:
• College tuition reimbursement
• Group life insurance
• Workers’ compensation premiums
• Parking on campus
• Social Security contributions
• Disability income protection
• Athletic event tickets and other nonsalaried benefits
Pros and Cons of College Professor Salary
Before you choose this career direction, it’s important to note the pros and cons of college professor salaries.
First, the pros:
• Potential for a high salary: You have the potential to earn good pay as a professor. Although the figure varies depending on your position and institution, years of experience and expertise, you can earn a competitive salary and comfortable living. A money tracker app can help you monitor your spending so you can make the most of your earnings.
• Perks: What other job allows you to attend football games for free or take in nationally recognized speakers and performers who come to campus? Whether you take advantage of these or other perks, you likely won’t find fringe benefits quite like those on a college campus.
• Unions can work in your favor: Professors in unions receive higher pay on average, and those who work in the same state and belong to a union get paid about $5,000 more, according to the National Education Association. Professors who work in states without unions make, on average, $17,000 less.
• Opportunity for tenure: College professors can sometimes maintain their roles permanently, meaning that they cannot be dismissed except under clearly outlined circumstances. After about seven years, you may achieve a guaranteed income and academic freedom.
Now, the cons:
• Lack of job security: In a highly competitive field like academia, it may be difficult to find a permanent position. Some professionals can only find contract positions or cannot secure tenure track positions, since many colleges have moved away from that model.
• Higher private sector salaries: Professors may find that the private sector offers higher salaries. Some professors may even pursue multiple roles to maximize their earnings.
• Unsavory parts of the job: No job is perfect, but faculty jobs often require long hours, sometimes include unmotivated students, politics, and other professional challenges. Some individuals may not find the high potential pay worth the trade-off.
The Takeaway
Now that you know how much money a college professor makes, you can determine whether the job is the right fit for you. Becoming a faculty member can offer an incredibly rewarding career with excellent pay. However, be sure to learn about the qualifications for the type of job you’d like to pursue in academia, because you may have to follow a very specific career path to qualify. Some professionals in the private sector make the jump to teaching after a solid career in the same field they teach.
While you’re unlikely to find professor jobs on the list of jobs for introverts due the very public-facing nature of the profession, many people find a niche — and a lucrative career — in academia.
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FAQ
Can you make $100k a year as a college professor?
Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a college professor. However, you’re unlikely to make that much as a first-year, adjunct, or part-time professor. Some experience and time in the field are typically required to qualify for that salary.
Do people like being a college professor?
Many people find that becoming a professor is very rewarding and consider teaching a calling rather than a job. Consider shadowing a college professor before you make the leap yourself. Interviewing a professor can also help you determine whether it’s for you. There are many other job responsibilities involved in the career besides teaching, some of which might not fit your preferences or personality.
Is it hard to get hired as a college professor?
It can seem hard to get hired as a college professor, especially for highly specialized fields in a competitive job market. You may need to follow a specific job path to become a tenure track professor, including achieving certain degrees, completing research or a postdoctoral fellowship, tackling professional development, gaining teaching experience, and more. You may also have to pass a final tenure review later on if you choose that path.
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