Professors earn $60,000-$250,000+ depending on rank, field, and institution — with massive variation between humanities and business/STEM fields.
Average Professor Salary in 2026
| Rank |
Average Salary |
Typical Range |
| Full Professor |
$140,000 |
$100,000-$300,000+ |
| Associate Professor |
$100,000 |
$75,000-$150,000 |
| Assistant Professor |
$85,000 |
$60,000-$120,000 |
| Lecturer/Instructor |
$58,000 |
$40,000-$80,000 |
| Adjunct (per course) |
$3,500 |
$1,500-$7,000 |
Professor Salary by Field
Highest-Paying Fields
| Field |
Full Professor |
Assistant Professor |
| Law |
$200,000 |
$130,000 |
| Business/MBA |
$190,000 |
$145,000 |
| Medicine |
$250,000 |
$150,000 |
| Engineering |
$160,000 |
$110,000 |
| Computer Science |
$175,000 |
$130,000 |
| Economics |
$165,000 |
$115,000 |
| Finance |
$210,000 |
$170,000 |
Mid-Range Fields
| Field |
Full Professor |
Assistant Professor |
| Nursing |
$115,000 |
$85,000 |
| Chemistry |
$125,000 |
$85,000 |
| Biology |
$120,000 |
$80,000 |
| Psychology |
$110,000 |
$75,000 |
| Political Science |
$115,000 |
$75,000 |
| Physics |
$130,000 |
$90,000 |
| Mathematics |
$120,000 |
$85,000 |
Lower-Paying Fields
| Field |
Full Professor |
Assistant Professor |
| English |
$95,000 |
$65,000 |
| History |
$100,000 |
$68,000 |
| Philosophy |
$98,000 |
$65,000 |
| Art |
$90,000 |
$60,000 |
| Music |
$95,000 |
$62,000 |
| Sociology |
$105,000 |
$70,000 |
| Religious Studies |
$90,000 |
$60,000 |
Finance and accounting professors at top business schools can earn $300,000-$500,000+.
Professor Salary by Institution Type
| Institution Type |
Full Professor |
Assistant Professor |
| Elite Private (Ivy+) |
$200,000+ |
$110,000+ |
| R1 Research University |
$150,000 |
$95,000 |
| R2 Research University |
$120,000 |
$80,000 |
| Liberal Arts College |
$115,000 |
$75,000 |
| Master’s-Granting |
$100,000 |
$70,000 |
| Community College |
$75,000 |
$55,000 |
Professor Salary by State
| State |
Full Professor |
vs. National |
| California |
$175,000 |
+25% |
| New York |
$165,000 |
+18% |
| Massachusetts |
$160,000 |
+14% |
| New Jersey |
$155,000 |
+11% |
| Connecticut |
$150,000 |
+7% |
| Texas |
$140,000 |
0% |
| Illinois |
$138,000 |
-1% |
| Florida |
$125,000 |
-11% |
| Ohio |
$120,000 |
-14% |
| Mississippi |
$100,000 |
-29% |
Cost of living significantly affects real purchasing power.
The Adjunct Crisis
| Factor |
Full-Time Faculty |
Adjunct |
| Per-course pay |
N/A |
$3,500 avg |
| Annual income (full load) |
$85,000+ |
$25,000-$40,000 |
| Benefits |
Yes |
Rarely |
| Job security |
Tenure possible |
Semester-to-semester |
| % of faculty |
30% |
50%+ |
Over half of college courses are now taught by adjuncts or contingent faculty.
Path to Becoming a Professor
| Stage |
Duration |
Income |
| Bachelor’s degree |
4 years |
$0 (debt) |
| PhD program |
5-7 years |
$25,000-$35,000 stipend |
| Postdoc (some fields) |
1-4 years |
$50,000-$65,000 |
| Assistant Professor |
6-7 years |
$70,000-$120,000 |
| Tenure decision |
— |
Up or out |
| Associate Professor |
5-10 years |
$90,000-$150,000 |
| Full Professor |
Career |
$120,000-$300,000+ |
Total training: 10-15+ years before tenure-track job
Tenure Track Reality
| Factor |
Assessment |
| PhD graduates per tenure-track opening |
10:1 or worse (humanities) |
| Time to tenure |
6-7 years |
| Tenure success rate |
60-80% |
| Post-tenure raises |
Modest |
| Geographic mobility required |
High |
Many PhDs never secure tenure-track positions.
Professor Work Schedule
| Factor |
Typical |
| Teaching load |
2-4 courses/semester |
| Office hours |
3-6 hours/week |
| Research expectations |
Significant |
| Committee work |
Required |
| Summer “off” |
Often research time |
| Vacation |
Flexible but research-driven |
Professor Salary After Taxes
| Gross Salary |
Federal Tax |
FICA |
State Tax (5%) |
Take-Home |
| $85,000 |
$13,000 |
$6,500 |
$4,250 |
$61,250 |
| $140,000 |
$26,000 |
$10,710 |
$7,000 |
$96,290 |
| $200,000 |
$42,000 |
$11,773 |
$10,000 |
$136,227 |
Additional Income Opportunities
| Source |
Potential |
| Consulting |
$100-$1,000/hour |
| Summer teaching |
$5,000-$15,000 |
| Textbook royalties |
Variable |
| Expert witness |
$200-$1,000/hour |
| Speaking fees |
$1,000-$50,000 |
| Grants (summer salary) |
$10,000-$30,000 |
Business and law professors often earn significant consulting income.
PhD to Professor: Financial Reality
| Field |
PhD Time |
Postdoc? |
First TT Salary |
Age at TT |
| Humanities |
7 years |
No |
$65,000 |
33 |
| Social Sciences |
6 years |
Sometimes |
$80,000 |
32 |
| STEM |
5 years |
Yes (2-4 yrs) |
$95,000 |
32 |
| Business |
5 years |
No |
$160,000 |
31 |
Career Earnings: Professor vs. Industry
| Career Path |
30-Year Earnings |
| English Professor |
$3.5M |
| CS Professor |
$5.5M |
| Business Professor |
$7M |
| Tech Industry (CS) |
$7M |
| Finance Industry |
$10M+ |
| Law Partner |
$15M+ |
Academia trades income for autonomy and intellectual freedom.
Tips for Maximizing Academic Income
- Choose field strategically — Business/law/CS pay 2-3x humanities
- Target R1 or elite institutions — Pay significantly more
- Consulting/expert witness — Can double income for some fields
- Summer grants — Fund summer salary through research
- Negotiate startup — Initial offer often negotiable
- Move institutions — Counter-offers drive raises
Related Articles
Data sources: AAUP Faculty Compensation Survey, Chronicle of Higher Education, College and University Professional Association. Updated March 2026.