Life As a Professor
Position Description All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.
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Other Professor Job Titles
- Adjunct Instructor
- Labor Relations Teacher
- Lecturer
- Teacher
- Associate Professor
What Kind of Professor Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 236,500 jobs for Professor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 22,200 new jobs for Professor by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 20,700 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Professor are Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Professor Salary
Professors make between $27,490 and $136,490 a year.

Professors who work in New York, Wisconsin, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Professors make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $36,330 |
Alaska | $84,740 |
Arizona | $68,880 |
Arkansas | $57,420 |
Colorado | $63,920 |
Delaware | $65,720 |
Florida | $61,440 |
Hawaii | $60,840 |
Idaho | $68,140 |
Illinois | $66,970 |
Iowa | $71,300 |
Kentucky | $50,500 |
Maine | $57,880 |
Minnesota | $64,840 |
Montana | $53,730 |
Nebraska | $52,410 |
Nevada | $58,280 |
New Hampshire | $63,850 |
New Jersey | $73,660 |
New York | $112,000 |
North Carolina | $70,590 |
North Dakota | $68,580 |
Oklahoma | $74,880 |
Rhode Island | $85,080 |
Tennessee | $53,390 |
Texas | $61,660 |
Washington | $74,330 |
West Virginia | $67,490 |
Wisconsin | $76,130 |
Wyoming | $52,800 |
Who Employs Professors?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
Image Credit: Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803) via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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