Who Earns What

How much does a social science prof make?

US Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other
$72,990

a year · about $35 an hour

A typical social science prof in the United States makes $72,990 a year, about $35 an hour, about 1.4× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What do they do?

They plan lessons, teach social-science classes, grade papers, and advise students. Between classes, they may research questions, write papers, meet colleagues, or hold office hours.

Did you know? A professor may spend up to seven years moving through job ranks before earning tenure, a form of job protection.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$72,990
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $40,670 and $164,420
54 of 100
more than half

How do you become one?

In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree, then usually a Ph.D. in a social-science field; doctoral study takes several years. Graduate students can teach as assistants, and some community colleges accept a master’s degree.

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, advanced degrees or other credentials, and location. It also depends on whether someone works at a university or community college and whether the job is full-time or part-time.

Where does it pay most?

Highest in California ($132,920), lowest in Arkansas ($37,490).

See every state
Whole US$72,990
California$132,920
Rhode Island$126,630
Minnesota$102,430
Utah$101,970
Massachusetts$98,260
Kansas$51,540
Pennsylvania$48,710
Arkansas$37,490

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

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Who earns more?
Data table and sources
Social science prof 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
$40,670$72,990$164,420about 17,000
States where social science profs earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
California$132,920about 3,000
Rhode Island$126,630about 140
Minnesota$102,430about 110
Utah$101,970about 60
Massachusetts$98,260about 410

Official definition: All postsecondary social sciences teachers not listed separately.

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