$Who Earns What

How much does a math professor make?

US Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Answer: A typical math professor in the United States makes $79,940 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US
$79,940

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 48,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner
$49,180
10th from the bottom of 100
Typical person
$79,940
Right in the middle (median)
Higher earner
$139,340
10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

50 of 100
more than half

Math professor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Math professor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$49,180$79,940$139,340about 48,000
States where math professors earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
California$130,680about 4,000
Michigan$99,330about 1,000
Oregon$91,770about 820
New York$87,230about 4,000
Minnesota$85,570about 690

Why does pay differ?

In the United States, pay can differ with experience, tenure, college type and location, and whether the job is full-time or part-time. Research and other responsibilities can also matter.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US
Whole US$79,940
California$130,680
Michigan$99,330
Oregon$91,770
New York$87,230
Minnesota$85,570
Georgia$66,440
Alabama$65,900
Florida$60,700

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a math professor do?

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

What's a typical day like?

A math professor plans a lesson, teaches calculus or statistics, answers students’ questions during office hours, and grades their work. At a large university, they may also do research or apply for research funding.

How to get this job

In the United States, study math in college, then usually earn a PhD; doctoral students complete original research and may gain teaching practice as graduate teaching assistants. Some community colleges hire math teachers with a master’s degree.

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 a large U.S. university, a math professor may apply for grants—money to fund research—not just teach math.

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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

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY