How much does a college professor make?
Answer: A typical college professor in the United States makes $77,640 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 150,000 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
College 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $44,300 | $77,640 | $160,700 | about 150,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $100,690 | about 38,000 |
| Massachusetts | $94,480 | about 2,000 |
| New Jersey | $85,260 | about 1,000 |
| Oklahoma | $84,550 | about 2,000 |
| Minnesota | $84,280 | about 3,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can vary with experience, advanced degrees or a professional license when one is needed, and the subject taught. The kind of college, the local area, and whether someone teaches full or part time also matter.
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 college professor do?
All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
A professor may teach a class, answer questions during office hours, and later grade papers or exams. Between classes, they plan lessons, advise students, or run experiments and write about what they discover.
How to get this job
In the U.S., study your subject in college, then usually earn a Ph.D.; some community colleges accept a master's degree. Graduate students may teach as assistants, and certain fields value related work experience or require a professional license.
Did you know?
Some U.S. college professors teach classes with several hundred students, often with graduate students helping them.
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/25-1199.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY