College professors' salaries vary widely depending on rank, institution type, and location, but here are the key figures based on recent data for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years in the United States:
Average Salaries by Academic Rank (2023-24 data)
- Full Professor: approximately $155,000 per year
- Associate Professor: about $106,000 per year
- Assistant Professor: around $92,000 per year
- Instructor: roughly $69,000 per year
- Lecturer: about $76,000 per year
These averages reflect full-time positions and can vary significantly by institution type
Salary Differences by Institution Type
- Private universities tend to pay the highest salaries, with full professors earning close to $196,000 on average.
- Public universities pay full professors about $145,000 on average.
- Religiously affiliated institutions pay slightly less, around $137,000 for full professors.
Associate and assistant professors follow a similar pattern, with private institutions offering the highest pay
Higher Salaries and Exceptions
- Some prestigious institutions and senior professors earn well into six figures.
- Ivy League full professors often earn between $175,000 and $250,000.
- Certain professors, especially those with additional roles or clinical appointments, can earn over $1 million annually (e.g., some Cornell and Harvard professors)
Additional Notes
- Adjunct professors and part-time faculty typically earn much less, sometimes only a few thousand dollars per course
- Salaries for professors with PhDs generally align with the ranks above, with full professors at private doctoral institutions averaging over $227,000
- National averages reported by other sources like Indeed are lower, around $58,000 to $67,000, likely reflecting a mix of full-time, part-time, and adjunct positions
In summary, full-time college professors in the U.S. typically earn between $90,000 and $160,000 annually depending on rank and institution, with top earners at elite universities making substantially more. Adjunct and non- tenure track faculty earn considerably less.
