College Professor Salary in 2026
College professors teach courses, conduct research, and publish scholarly work at universities and colleges. They mentor students, serve on committees, and contribute to their academic field.
Median Salary
$82,250
$6,854/mo
Entry Level
$52,000
starting pay
Senior Level
$124,800
experienced
Job Growth
+8%
10-yr outlook
BLS OEWS May 2025 · official national figures
BLS reports Postsecondary Teachers (all fields) (SOC 25-1000, the closest published occupation to College Professor) at a national median of $82,250 per year (mean $103,470), with 1,370,560 people employed nationwide. The median above is this BLS figure; the entry, senior and top tiers are Salario estimates calibrated to it. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
College Professor Overview
College professors teach courses, conduct research, and publish scholarly work at universities and colleges. They mentor students, serve on committees, and contribute to their academic field.
Education
Doctoral Degree (PhD)
Experience
5-10 years
Industry
Education
Total Jobs (US)
1.4M
5-Year Growth
+12%
Category
Education
Hourly Rate
$39.54/hr
Monthly Pay
$6,854
Reviewed May 18, 2026
2026 College Professor Salary Market Notes
Market context
College professor pay varies sharply by discipline, tenure status, institution type, grant funding, union contract, and whether the role is tenure-track, clinical, adjunct, research, or teaching-focused.
What drives higher pay
The strongest salary drivers are discipline scarcity, publication record, funded research, professional accreditation, graduate teaching, program leadership, industry demand, and movement from adjunct or lecturer status into full-time faculty tracks.
Location note
Research universities and professional schools in major metros can pay much more than small colleges, but local cost of living and tenure security change the real value of the offer.
Career move
A practical salary move is to separate base salary from summer teaching, overload, grants, consulting, housing support, and retirement benefits. For tenure-track roles, negotiate startup package and course load as carefully as salary.
Use BLS postsecondary teacher data by discipline as the baseline; professor pay is too discipline-specific for one national average to be enough.
College Professor Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated College Professor salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated College Professor Salary
$100,000
$8,333/month · $3,846/biweekly · $48.08/hr
College Professor Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the College Professor field.
Entry-level College Professors earn around $52,000, while the top 10% earn $145,600 or more.
Top Paying States for College Professors
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $97,000 | +$14,750 |
| New York | $95,000 | +$12,750 |
| Massachusetts | $92,000 | +$9,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,000 | $-250 |
| Texas | $81,000 | $-1,250 |
Top Paying Cities for College Professors
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $97,000 | +$14,750 |
| Boston | $92,000 | +$9,750 |
| Los Angeles | $92,000 | +$9,750 |
| Austin | $85,000 | +$2,750 |
| Philadelphia | $84,000 | +$1,750 |
City figures are Salario estimates that scale the national median by a city cost-of-labor multiplier; BLS does not publish a metro-level series for this title.
College Professor Salary by City
Published city-level wage and take-home pay guides for College Professor.
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
College Professor Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a College Professor from entry level to expert.
$52,000
0-2 years
$88,000
3-7 years
$124,800
8-14 years
$166,400
15+ years
Related Education Jobs
College Professor Salary FAQ
How much does a College Professor make in 2026?
The median salary for a College Professor in the United States is $82,250 per year, the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median for Postsecondary Teachers (all fields) (SOC 25-1000); the mean is $103,470. Salario's calibrated tiers put entry-level positions around $52,000, senior professionals around $124,800, and top earners at $166,400 or more annually.
What education is needed to become a College Professor?
A College Professor typically requires a Doctoral Degree (PhD) with 5-10 years of experience. Key skills include Teaching, Research, Publishing. Relevant certifications such as PhD in Field or Tenure Track can boost earning potential and career advancement.
What is the job outlook for College Professors?
The job market for College Professors is projected to grow by 8% over the next decade. There are currently approximately 1.4M College Professor positions in the US. Salary growth over the past 5 years has been approximately 12%, reflecting steady demand for this role.
Which states pay College Professors the most?
The highest-paying states for College Professors include California, New York, Massachusetts. In California, the median salary is approximately $97,000. However, cost of living varies significantly, so adjusted purchasing power should be considered when comparing salaries across states.
How can I increase my College Professor salary?
To increase your College Professor salary, focus on gaining expertise in high-demand skills like Teaching and Research. Pursue certifications such as PhD in Field. Consider relocating to higher-paying markets like Boston. With 5-10 years of experience, you can progress from $52,000 to $124,800 or more.
Methodology & Data Sources: College Professor Salary
How we calculate College Professor salary data: The national median is the official BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median wage for Postsecondary Teachers (all fields) (SOC 25-1000), retrieved from the BLS Public Data API. The entry, senior and top tiers are a Salario model: the shape of the distribution is Salario's, rescaled so that its median equals the BLS median. State and most city figures are Salario estimates that apply cost-of-labor multipliers to that median.
- National median salary: $82,250, BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median for Postsecondary Teachers (all fields); BLS mean $103,470.
- Entry-level ($52,000) and senior-level ($124,800) are Salario tiers calibrated to the BLS median; they are not BLS percentiles. BLS publishes P10/P25/P75/P90 wages for this occupation in its OEWS tables.
- Job outlook: +8% projected growth is Salario's outlook figure; compare with the BLS Employment Projections program. BLS OEWS May 2025 counts 1,370,560 Postsecondary Teachers (all fields) jobs nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 12% is a Salario estimate of past 5-year wage growth for the Education sector, informed by the BLS Employment Cost Index.
- Education requirement: Doctoral Degree (PhD), per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State and city estimates apply Salario cost-of-labor multipliers to the national median of $82,250; city rows marked "BLS metro" are real OEWS metropolitan-area medians instead.
Authoritative US data sources for College Professor compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, College Professor job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections, 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index, quarterly compensation trend data for Education
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: College Professor salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Teaching, Research, Publishing), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated May 17, 2026 · BLS figures: OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026), retrieved from the BLS API on September 17, 2026
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