The compensation of college professors varies significantly depending on factors such as department, institution type, and level of experience. For instance, professors in highly competitive fields like engineering or computer science may command higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000 per year. On the other hand, community colleges and public universities tend to offer lower starting salaries, typically ranging from $60,000 to $90,000 annually. Additionally, faculty with a doctorate degree hold more senior roles and enjoy greater autonomy, which can contribute to higher salaries. To give you a better idea, here are some average salary ranges for college professors in the US:
Master's degree holders (newly hired): $55,000 - $75,000 per year
Doctoral degree holders (assistant professors): $65,000 - $95,000 per year
Doctoral degree holders (associate professors): $80,000 - $120,000 per year
Doctoral degree holders (full professors): $100,000 - $150,000 per year. It's worth noting that these figures are based on data from 2020, and salaries have likely changed since then.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the median annual salary for postsecondary teachers in the US was $80,135 in May 2020. This number represents the middle value of all professors' salaries, with half earning more and half less than this amount.