How much does a law professor make?
Answer: A typical law professor in the United States makes $128,500 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 20,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Law professor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $64,250 | $128,500 | $287,900 | about 20,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $138,160 | about 880 |
| District of Columbia | $134,090 | about 670 |
| New York | $132,180 | about 2,000 |
| Massachusetts | $132,010 | about 840 |
| Pennsylvania | $121,310 | about 710 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay varies with experience, responsibility, years on the job, location, and whether someone works at a university or junior college. Full-time and part-time jobs, and roles such as clinical or legal-writing teacher, can also have different duties and pay arrangements.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a law professor do?
Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What's a typical day like?
A law professor leads students through court cases, then meets them in office hours and grades papers. Between classes, the professor researches legal questions and writes articles; clinic teachers may guide students on real cases.
How to get this job
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree and J.D.; build a research record, often through a fellowship or VAP, and sometimes a Ph.D. For real-client clinics, state rules may also require bar admission and practice experience.
Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out.
Did you know?
At UCLA, students in a law professor’s clinic helped prepare a real case that the U.S. Supreme Court decided in their clients’ favor.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Sources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/May/oes251112.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/25-1112.00
- teach.aals.org/tenure-track
- thebarexaminer.ncbex.org/article/legal-profession/foreign-legal-consultants-and-
- dailybruin.com/2017/04/30/ucla-law-professor-students-win-supreme-court-case-thr
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY