SOC 25-1199 · May 2025
Professor Salary
Professors in the US earn a median of $77,640 a year, according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. The top 10% earn $160,700 or more, 3.6 times the $44,300 at the 10th percentile.
Median annual
$77,640
Half of all Professors in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
Hourly
–
Job growth 2025-35
+2%
US workers
149,840
BLS series
Annual median wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Professors is $44,300 – $160,700.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$44,300
25th
$59,290
Median
$77,640
75th
$106,770
90th
$160,700
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Professors. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $44,300 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $59,290 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $77,640 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $106,770 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $160,700 |
Geography
Professor pay by state
Professors earn the most in Delaware ($101,070, +30% against the national median) and the least in Wyoming ($46,710). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 48 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$77,640
Highest-paying states for professors
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $101,070 | +30% | – |
| California | $100,690 | +30% | 37,770 |
| Massachusetts | $94,480 | +22% | 1,790 |
| New Jersey | $85,260 | +10% | 1,040 |
| Oklahoma | $84,550 | +9% | 1,720 |
| Minnesota | $84,280 | +9% | 2,620 |
| Virginia | $84,060 | +8% | 1,580 |
| Colorado | $83,210 | +7% | 480 |
| Maryland | $82,850 | +7% | 4,840 |
| New Hampshire | $79,980 | +3% | 330 |
All 48 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $101,070 | – |
| California | $100,690 | 37,770 |
| Massachusetts | $94,480 | 1,790 |
| New Jersey | $85,260 | 1,040 |
| Oklahoma | $84,550 | 1,720 |
| Minnesota | $84,280 | 2,620 |
| Virginia | $84,060 | 1,580 |
| Colorado | $83,210 | 480 |
| Maryland | $82,850 | 4,840 |
| New Hampshire | $79,980 | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $79,120 | 1,280 |
| Washington | $78,940 | 470 |
| D.C. | $78,890 | 400 |
| New Mexico | $78,840 | 1,360 |
| Louisiana | $78,810 | 6,870 |
| Connecticut | $78,220 | 1,940 |
| South Carolina | $77,940 | 1,600 |
| Montana | $77,550 | 570 |
| Arizona | $76,700 | 2,000 |
| Tennessee | $76,480 | 2,410 |
| Indiana | $76,390 | 1,340 |
| Kansas | $75,790 | 2,530 |
| Ohio | $75,680 | 5,670 |
| North Carolina | $74,240 | 2,030 |
| Idaho | $74,180 | 2,200 |
| Oregon | $72,440 | 3,840 |
| Iowa | $71,680 | 1,480 |
| Michigan | $70,550 | 2,660 |
| Kentucky | $67,690 | 4,120 |
| New York | $67,640 | 2,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,400 | 12,100 |
| West Virginia | $65,260 | 430 |
| Georgia | $64,650 | 5,480 |
| Texas | $64,110 | 4,600 |
| North Dakota | $63,430 | 470 |
| Florida | $62,670 | 14,730 |
| Missouri | $61,860 | 1,080 |
| Utah | $61,370 | 3,640 |
| Rhode Island | $60,390 | 770 |
| Maine | $59,950 | 280 |
| Illinois | $59,590 | 990 |
| Nevada | $59,270 | 1,460 |
| Vermont | $59,010 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $54,620 | 1,530 |
| Nebraska | $52,210 | 830 |
| Alabama | $51,060 | 220 |
| Hawaii | $49,730 | 510 |
| Wyoming | $46,710 | 480 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Professors
Postsecondary teachers and professors (BLS SOC 25-1199 covers all-other postsecondary teachers; full-discipline-specific SOCs exist for major fields) teach courses at colleges, universities, and professional schools. Most tenure-track positions require a doctorate; teaching-track and adjunct positions vary. Pay differs sharply by discipline (business and law professors substantially exceed humanities and education professors), institution type (R1 university vs. community college), and tenure status. Adjunct faculty are often paid per course and may fall well below OEWS figures.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $44,300 – $160,700. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Delaware, California and Massachusetts. Pay in Delaware runs 2.2 times the level in Wyoming, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as doctoral or professional degree, and projects about 12,500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 2% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Professor salary in the US?
How much do Professors make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Professors the most?
Is the average Professor salary higher than the median?
Is Professor a growing career?
Open positions
Open Professor roles hiring now
Browse current Professor listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 25-1199. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.