How Much Do College Professors Make?

By Amanda HoyleJanuary 7, 2022
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Amanda Hoyle
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Amanda is a proficient and widely published educational leader, with Master's degrees in both Education and Psychology.
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The role of a professor has far more rewards than the salary. But, one challenging point is the pay structure.

The average professor's salary differs according to various factors. Sometimes, the pay can be rewarding but in most cases, it isn't, let's take a look.

Full college professors in the states make about an average of $140,543. Senior-level professors at private colleges receive the highest annual earnings. Adjunct and other non-tenured faculty staff accumulate much less per year. Even though student costs are on the rise and there's executive compensation, professors' remuneration stays the same.

Professor Salary Differs According To Job Level, College Type

There are usually three ranks for college professors: assistant, associate, and full. At the beginning of their careers, assistant professors work on a full-time basis and are introductory professors who hold a terminal degree. Associate professors are mid-weight, tenured professors, while full professors are at the senior level.

Besides these ranks, there are adjunct faculty and full-time, non-tenured faculty with titles like lecturer or instructor. After ranks, the type of institution they teach at is also considered. Public, private or independent, or religiously affiliated. Additionally, education level is also important because it may affect the annual salary.

Average Salary By Institution Type, 2020-21

Professor 

All institution types - $140,543

Public - $132,199

Private/Independent - $175,943

Religiously Affiliated - $121,895

Associate Professor

All institution types - $95,828 

Public - $93,991 

Private/Independent - $108,195

Religiously Affiliated - $88,460

Assistant Professor

All institution types - $83,362 

Public - $82,136

Private/Independent - $93,999 

Religiously Affiliated - $75,500

Instructor

All institution types - $62,926

Public - $57,812

Private/Independent - $77,417

Religiously Affiliated - $67,385

Lecturer

All institution types - $66,669 

Public - $63,624

Private/Independent - $80,190

Religiously Affiliated - $63,263

No Rank 

All institution types - $73,625

Public - $68,368

Private/Independent - $73,164

Religiously Affiliated - $99,801

Combined 

All institution types - $101,810

Public - $97,141

Private/Independent - $124,683

Religiously Affiliated - $92,179

If we're talking about the average salary for a full professor at private, doctoral institutions is the highest of all of them at around $202,199. Instructors at religiously affiliated universities have the lowest average salary at $51,444.

At baccalaureate institutions, a full professor is an average of $99,616 at public universities and $125,420 at private institutions. This 23% difference shows how much more professors get paid in the private sector.

Professor Pay Stays Stagnant Even as Costs Rise

Over the past 10 years, changes in the average college professor salary in the U.S. haven't really made a dent. Between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, the increase in average professor salaries was only 1% for all professor ranks, including all institution types. 

When you take a look at this increase against inflation, you realize there's actually been a decrease in professor salaries. Before the pandemic, salaries had increased in the 3% range every year for the past decade. 

This stagnation is surprising when you compare it with the rising tuition fees and increased salaries for top executives in the universities. College tuition has risen by 46%, while the presidential salaries have gone up so much that experts are unable to track by how much. 

Professors' Pay Can Top $1 Million, but It's Rare 

Most university professors make less than $250,000 per year. However, there are a few professors who earn a $1 million annual salary. This is probably because they have other roles within the university. For example, in 2018, Zev Rosenwaks of Cornell University made $8.22 million as a tenured clinical professor, according to his tax filings. That's eight times the salary of the average professor. 

Rosenwaks is one of a few Cornell professors who made millions in 2018. Associate clinical professors Hey-Joo Kang, Pak H. Chung, and Steven Spandorfer, as well as assistant clinical professor Rony Elias, each went home with over $3 million that year.

Besides Cornell, there are other universities that pay top dollars. David N. Silvers who works for Columbia University reportedly earns over $4 million per year as a professor of dermatology and the director of the university's dermatopathology laboratory. William E. Fruhan Jr., professor emeritus at Harvard Business School, was reported to have made $1.19 million in 2018. 

How Do You Become A Professor? 

1. Earn An Undergraduate Degree

It all begins with a bachelor's degree. Besides being the prerequisite for entering grad school, you first have to gain the initial knowledge of your chosen career field before you specialize. You may know what you want from day one but you may also discover it along the way. 

2. Choose A Subject To Specialize In 

If you want to be a professor, you have to choose an area of specialization. Then you start building your expertise. On top of taking on coursework, you should participate in an internship during your undergraduate years as it can help you develop your skills and experience. 

3. Earn A Graduate Degree 

Students who aspire to be professors study for many years and must obtain a graduate degree. If you want to work at a community college, you should have a Master's degree, and if you dream of working at four-year colleges and universities should earn a doctorate. But, if there's a lot of job candidates, community colleges may choose those that hold doctoral degrees. 

4. Take Part In Assistantship

During graduate years, you should participate in an assistantship program at your college. It's a financial aid that gives students the chance to get full or partial tuition remission and a stipend while they get work experience under the tutelage of a professor. You may also receive graduate credit hours that contribute towards your degree. 

There are different types of assistantships, depending on your academic department. Some tasks include collecting, documenting, and analyzing research data. Teaching assistantships may participate in grading tests and assignments, meeting with students during office hours, and conducting class lectures. Administrative assistantships mean that you'll be providing academic advising and career counseling to students, performing presentations, and evaluating programs in the department. 

5. Gain Post-Doctoral Experience 

In order to qualify for a professor position, you should have post-doctoral experience. Those who've completed their Ph.D. then have the opportunity to conduct original research and create a catalog of studies published in academic journals. Postdoctoral jobs are usually available in colleges and universities and they last two to three years. If you want to teach in the science field, you'll have to have the relevant experience to become a professor in that field. 

Professor Salary & Job Growth

In 2017, the average professor's salary was $76,000 a year. Those in the bottom 10 percent earned $39,000 and the top 10 percent earned $170,160.

How Much Can You Earn In Different States?

Alabama

  • Currently Employed: 3,370
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 5%
  • Mean wage annual: $29,640

Alaska

  • Currently Employed: 290
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 1%
  • Mean wage annual: $79,300

Arizona

  • Currently Employed: 1,780
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): N/A
  • Mean wage annual: $74,210

Arkansas

  • Currently Employed: 790
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): N/A
  • Mean wage annual: $56,410

California

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 10%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Colorado

  • Currently Employed: 440
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): N/A
  • Mean wage annual: $63,650

Connecticut

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 1%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Delaware

  • Currently Employed: 50
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 9%
  • Mean wage annual: $66,000

Florida

  • Currently Employed: 14,970
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 16%
  • Mean wage annual: $60,300

Georgia

  • Currently Employed: 5,540
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 15%
  • Mean wage annual: $80,260

Hawaii

  • Currently Employed: 500
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 8%
  • Mean wage annual: $53,710

Idaho

  • Currently Employed: 230
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 12%
  • Mean wage annual: $66,550

Illinois

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 5%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Indiana

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 9%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Iowa

  • Currently Employed: 2,470
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 9%
  • Mean wage annual: $68,900

Kansas

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 7%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Kentucky

  • Currently Employed: 1,330
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): N/A
  • Mean wage annual: $57,580

Louisiana

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 10%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Maine

  • Currently Employed: 460
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): -2%
  • Mean wage annual: $58,400

Maryland

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 7%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Massachusetts

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 13%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Minnesota 

  • Currently Employed: 580
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 12% 
  • Mean wage annual: $57,280

Mississippi

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 11%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Missouri

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 8%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Montana

  • Currently Employed: 80
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 5%
  • Mean wage annual: $53,640

Nebraska

  • Currently Employed: 2,550
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 7%
  • Mean wage annual: $55,460

New Hampshire

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 4%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

New Jersey

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 6%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

New Mexico

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 7%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

New York

  • Currently Employed: 6,150
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 14%
  • Mean wage annual: $103,910

North Carolina

  • Currently Employed: 4,890
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 10%
  • Mean wage annual: $76,890

North Dakota

  • Currently Employed: 610
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 8%
  • Mean wage annual: $70,030

Ohio

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 13%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A

Oklahoma 

  • Currently Employed: 1,540
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 8%
  • Mean wage annual: $71,530

Oregon 

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): N/A
  • Mean wage annual: N/A 

Pennsylvania

  • Currently Employed: 3,640
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 8%
  • Mean wage annual: $71,080

Rhode Island 

  • Currently Employed: 450
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 5%
  • Mean wage annual: $88,370

South Carolina 

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): N/A
  • Mean wage annual: N/A 

South Dakota 

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): N/A
  • Mean wage annual: N/A 

Tennessee 

  • Currently Employed: 1,690
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 12%
  • Mean wage annual: $53,720

Texas 

  • Currently Employed: 3,200
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): N/A 
  • Mean wage annual: $63,120

Utah 

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 34%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A 

Vermont 

  • Currently Employed: 210
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): -1%
  • Mean wage annual: $72,650

Virginia 

  • Currently Employed: N/A
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 14%
  • Mean wage annual: N/A 

Washington 

  • Currently Employed: 1,020
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 19%
  • Mean wage annual: $72,180

West Virginia 

  • Currently Employed: 150
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 10%
  • Mean wage annual: $56,460

Wisconsin

  • Currently Employed: 3,300
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 6%
  • Mean wage annual: $70,450

Wyoming

  • Currently Employed: 430
  • Change in Employment (2016-2026): 4%
  • Mean wage annual: $53,310

Conclusion 

Becoming a college professor takes an incredible amount of time and effort. But once you make it, the rewards are far more than the salary you earn. While not every professor gets to make millions, it's possible to reach that milestone if you add more expertise to your resume.

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Amanda Hoyle
Founder
Amanda is a proficient and widely published educational leader, with Master's degrees in both Education and Psychology.
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