How much does a social science prof make?
Answer: A typical social science prof in the United States makes $72,990 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 17,000 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
Social science prof 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,670 | $72,990 | $164,420 | about 17,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $132,920 | about 3,000 |
| New York | $79,040 | about 2,000 |
| Texas | $73,750 | about 2,000 |
| Maryland | $68,650 | about 500 |
| Illinois | $63,470 | about 2,000 |
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.
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 social science prof do?
All postsecondary social sciences teachers not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
Did you know?
A professor may spend up to seven years moving through job ranks before earning tenure, a form of job protection.
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.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes251069.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1069.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY