Skip Navigation

Put your best foot forward

How Much Does a College Professor Make?

Whether you’re lecturing on the finer points of underwater basket weaving or conducting an experiment to determine how many licks it takes to get to the center of a lollipop, your days are never the same as a College Professor. The intellectual stimulation of the academic environment and the reward of guiding young minds make this position very fulfilling yet challenging. Sharing your knowledge of a particular subject fills your class time, and when your office door closes, you focus on sharing your insight with colleagues near and far through academic journal articles and papers.

What is the average salary of a University Professor?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary of a University Professor was $75,430 annually as of May 2016. The lowest-paid 10 percent of all University Professors earn less than $38,290, while the highest-paid 10 percent are paid more than $168,270 per year.

The average salary of a University Professor depends on several factors, such as the size and location of the college or university, the subject taught, and whether the institution is private or public. For example, a University Professor teaching in the health sciences field (such as nursing, medicine, or veterinary medicine) earns an average of $99,360 per year. In contrast, a University Professor teaching education earns an average of $62,520 annually.

The American Association of University Professors reports that the salary of full-time faculty at private colleges and universities average $105,323, as compared to $103,019 for those teaching at public colleges and universities. And Professors working at four-year institutions, whether private or public, earn higher salaries than those employed at two-year schools.

Are College Professor positions available?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment for College and University Professors to grow at a faster-than-average rate. The competition for tenure-track positions will continue to be stiff, making openings more widely available for part-time and non-tenure-track positions. Candidates holding a Ph.D. in their subject area will likely be the most successful applicants.

Was this helpful?YesNo

Careers You May Like

Accounting Professor

Teach university students about accounting.

Animal Science Professor

Teach university students about animal sciences.

Art Professor

Teach university students about art.

Astrophysics Professor

Teach university students about astrophysics.

Atmospheric Sciences Professor

Teach university students about atmospheric sciences.

Biblical Studies Professor

Teach university students about the Bible.

Biostatistics Professor

Teach university students about biostatistics.

Business Administration Professor

Teach university students about business administration.

Business Technology Professor

Teach university students about business technology.

Chemical Engineering Professor

Teach university students about chemical engineering.

Chemistry Department Chair

Head up a university’s chemistry department.

Chemistry Professor

Teach university students about chemistry.

Civil Engineering Professor

Teach university students about building design and construction.

Clinical Psychology Professor

Teach university students about clinical psychology.

Communications Professor

Teach university students about communications.

Computer Science Professor

Teach university students about computer science.

Criminology Professor

Teach university students about criminology.

Cultural Anthropology Professor

Teach university students about cultural anthropology.

Engineering Professor

Teach university students about engineering.

English Professor

Teach university students about English and literature.

Environmental Studies Professor

Teach university students about environmental studies.

Forestry Professor

Teach university students about forestry.

Geology Professor

Teach university students about geology.

Industrial Psychology Professor

Teach university students about industrial psychology.

Interior Architecture Professor

Teach university students about interior architecture.

Interior Design Professor

Teach university students about interior design.

IT Instructor

Give classes in information technology.

Italian Professor

Teach university students about Italian and Italy.

Japanese Professor

Teach university students about Japanese and Japan.

Journalism Professor

Teach university students about journalism.

Law Professor

Teach university students about the law.

Marketing Professor

Teach university students about marketing.

Mechanical Engineering Professor

Teach university students about mechanical engineering.

Microeconomics Professor

Teach university students about microeconomics.

Music Technology Professor

Teach university students about music technology.

Natural Sciences Professor

Teach university students about the natural sciences.

Nursing Instructor

Train the next generation of Nurses.

Oceanography Professor

Teach university students about oceanography.

Philosophy Professor

Teach university students about philosophy.

Photography Professor

Teach university students about photography.

Physics Professor

Teach university students about physics.

Political Science Professor

Teach university students about political science.

Professor

Teach university or college students.

Social Work Professor

Teach university students about social work.

Spanish Professor

Teach university students about Spanish.

Special Education Professor

Teach university students about special education practices.

Statistics Professor

Teach university students about statistics.