Home Salary Guide Professor

Education

Professor Salary

Professors teach courses in a wide variety of academic and career subjects at universities and colleges, conducting research and publishing scholarly papers.

Median: $80,840 Growth: 8% BLS Data

Professor Salary Range

Entry Level

$50,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$78,000

5-10 years

Senior Level

$130,000

10+ years

Salary Percentiles

10th Percentile $45,290

25th Percentile $59,020

Median (50th) $80,840

75th Percentile $118,120

90th Percentile $168,000

Top Paying States for Professors

1 California

$115,000

2 New York

$110,000

3 Massachusetts

$108,000

4 Connecticut

$105,000

5 New Jersey

$102,000

Job Outlook & Education

Growth Rate

+8%

Above Average

Education

Doctoral degree (PhD) in subject area

How Much Do Professors Make?

The median annual salary for a professor in the United States is $80,840 as of 2026. This means half of professors earn more than this amount, and half earn less.

Salary by Experience Level

Entry Level (0-2 years): $50,000
Mid Career (5-10 years): $78,000
Senior Level (10+ years): $130,000

Calculate Your Take-Home

See exactly how much you'll take home after taxes with our income calculator.

Calculate $80,840 Salary

Hourly Equivalent

Based on 2,080 work hours/year

$38/hr

See $38/hr Breakdown

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What Can a Professor Afford?

Based on median salary of $80,840

Max Rent $1,999/mo

Max Car Payment $799/mo

Monthly Savings $1,007/mo

See Full Budget Breakdown

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