How much does a philosophy professor make?
Answer: A typical philosophy professor in the United States makes $80,260 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
Philosophy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $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 |
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.
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 philosophy professor do?
Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
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?
Their audience can include the wider community, not just college students: they may give talks on ethics, logic, or contemporary religious thought.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Educational Instruction and Library jobs that pay a bit moreSources 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/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