How much does a philosophy professor make?
a year · about $39 an hour
A typical philosophy professor in the United States makes $80,260 a year, about $39 an hour, about 1.6× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They prepare lessons, lead class discussions about ethics or logic, and grade students’ work. They may also meet students during office hours and write articles or books about their research.
Did you know? Their audience can include the wider community, not just college students: they may give talks on ethics, logic, or contemporary religious thought.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $49,140 and $139,580How do you become one?
In the U.S., students usually earn a bachelor’s degree, then a Ph.D. in philosophy or religious studies, writing and defending original research. Many practice teaching as graduate assistants; some community colleges hire people with a master’s degree.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, location, and whether a job is full-time or part-time. Universities and community colleges can have different pay patterns, and part-time professors may teach at more than one college.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($105,820), lowest in North Carolina ($76,340).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
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Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $49,140 | $80,260 | $139,580 | about 20,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $105,820 | about 2,000 |
| Massachusetts | $98,360 | about 890 |
| New York | $92,050 | about 2,000 |
| Michigan | $89,610 | about 620 |
| Virginia | $85,310 | about 620 |
Official definition: Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1126.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes251126.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY