How much does a psychology professor make?
a year · about $39 an hour
A typical psychology professor in the United States makes $80,340 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, explain topics such as memory or child development, and lead class discussions. They grade work, meet students during office hours, and may also conduct research or write papers.
Did you know? In the U.S., earning tenure can take up to seven years while a professor moves through assistant, associate, and professor ranks.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $49,050 and $153,600How do you become one?
In the U.S., the usual path is a bachelor's degree and then a psychology Ph.D.; some community colleges hire teachers with a master's. Graduate students often teach as assistants; clinical practice may require a state license.
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 and advanced degrees, college type and location, and full-time versus adjunct work. Teaching a psychology specialty or adding research duties can change the work and responsibilities, which may affect pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($107,340), lowest in Florida ($69,050).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $49,050 | $80,340 | $153,600 | about 42,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $107,340 | about 4,000 |
| Maryland | $101,430 | about 640 |
| New York | $100,720 | about 4,000 |
| Michigan | $99,900 | about 920 |
| Connecticut | $84,500 | about 920 |
Official definition: Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. 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/details/25-1066.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes251066.htm
- www.apa.org/gradpsych/2004/01/get-licensed
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY