How Much Colleges Professors Make

The national average salary for college professors is $88,964 per year. Of course, this can vary by level of experience, educational background, and geographic location. College professors’ salaries also vary by their discipline, subject matter, and institution.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) categorizes college professors as postsecondary teachers. According to BLS data, the job outlook for college professors is supposed to increase by 9% from 2019 to 2029. The reason this career is growing faster than the average for all occupations has a lot to do with the demand of certain academic fields. The number of students expected to attend postsecondary institutions is supposed to grow within this next decade, which means schools will need to hire more professors to accommodate their students.

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When researching what it takes to become a college professor, get to know these different roles:

Instructor

Average Base Pay: $56,188 per year

An instructor is responsible for teaching students based on their department’s standards. Their primary duties include creating lesson plans, lecturing, and giving assignments. Students can meet with instructors to formulate their educational and career goals. An instructor is highly knowledgeable about a particular area of study.

Assistant professor

Average Base Pay: $75,000 per year

An assistant professor is essentially an entry-level collegiate educator. They are responsible for teaching students and conducting research. Much of this role involves writing research papers and scholarly articles. In this role, you develop lesson plans, provide mentorship to students, and support teaching assistants.

Associate professor

Average Base Pay: $85,667 per year

An associate professor is a mid-level educator at a college or university. It’s their goal to further establish their career through research. They are responsible for teaching courses within their field or discipline. Many students within a specific major will go to an associate professor for advice. Other main duties include mentoring students, giving lectures, publishing academic research, speaking at conferences, and participating in faculty committees.

Professor

Average Base Pay: $88,964 per year

A professor has the highest recognition of any educator. They are an expert in their field or area of study. Much of a professor’s role consists of writing scholarly articles or conducting research. They also develop lesson plans for their courses. More often, a professor’s teaching assistant is responsible for things like meeting with students or grading assignments. A professor more so takes care of high-level educational duties.

If you don’t want to become a college professor, there are plenty of other educator roles you can look into. Here are a few to get you started on your search:

Teaching assistant

Average Base Pay: $32,489 per year

A teaching assistant works under the supervision of an educator, such as a professor, to help facilitate learning in the classroom. They may give lectures or guide students through discussion groups. Oftentimes, teaching assistants are students themselves, trying to earn their master’s or doctorate degree. They often have to complete their own research, dissertation, or thesis. Sometimes teaching assistants will receive a stipend for the work they do.

Learn more: Teaching Careers: How to Become a Teacher

Student advisor

Average Base Pay: $42,871 per year

A student advisor meets with students to help them plan their educational trajectory. They will help students pick courses, decide on a major, and find the right career path. Student advisors may also look over students’ application materials, cover letters, and resumes. Giving support, guidance, and advice is at the core of what they do.

High school teacher

Average Base Pay: $44,137 per year

A high school teacher creates lesson plans, teaches students, grades assignments, and meets with students to discuss their coursework. They are trained to teach in a specific subject, such as math, biology, chemistry, English, or history. A high school teacher uses a wide variety of teaching techniques, such as lectures, visual presentations, and hands-on learning exercises.

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Instructional coordinator

Average Base Pay: $47,294 per year

An instructional coordinator is responsible for developing curriculums and best teaching practices. In this leadership role, they look at how effective educational programs are and make changes as needed. Many instructional coordinators have a background in hands-on education and at least a master’s degree in educational leadership or a similar area of study.

The amount you make as a professor depends on many different factors, with your geographic location being a major one. Since it tends to cost more to live on the coasts, it’s likely that you can make a higher salary here. However, another factor to keep in mind is that even if a different area pays less, your living expenses may be less too. That’s why it’s important to understand your living expenses and budget before starting the job search. Get to know which states pay college professors the highest salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Oklahoma: $74,880 per year
• Wisconsin: $76,130 per year
• Alaska: $84,740 per year
• Rhode Island: $85,080 per year
• New York: $112,000 per year