As the academic year commences, the associate professor’s salary is a hot topic of debate amongst many universities and colleges. An associate professor’s salary is a critical aspect of academia and higher education, as they are responsible for fostering knowledge among their students and advancing research in their respective fields.
However, determining an adequate salary for an associate professor can take time, depending on their institution, location, and field of study. As a result, many universities are now unveiling their associate professor’s salaries to promote transparency and, ultimately, attract and retain the best talent.
In this article, we will delve into the complexities of associate professor salary and examine the various factors that affect it.
What Is The Average Salary of Associate Professors?
The average salary of the teachers varies in different fields, industries, states, and districts. The earnings made by the associate professors also vary according to the public and private colleges. So let us look at the average salary associate professors earn and its details.
- The average salary of an associate professor was reported to be $103,292 as of August 2022.
- $49.66 is the hourly salary earned by the associate professors.
- The entry-level salary earned by the professors is $56,000 annually.
- The highest salary earned by associate professors is reported to be $189,000 annually.
- The associate professors in California earn the highest salary in United Nations. The salary earned by associate professors in the state is $135,590 annually.
- The professors earn the highest salary in Los Angles, with associate professors reporting a salary of $139,697.
- Baylor College of Medicine offers the highest salary to associate professors and pays the associate professors amount of $243,466.
Source: NCES.
How much does a Faculty – Associate Professor make?
Every year the average salary earned by associate professors varies according to the average earned by them in different states and different cities. The average earnings of the associate professors in 2022 were reported to be $103,000. The average salary earned by the average professors was similar in 2021.
The following table depicts the average earnings made by the associate professors over the years. It also provides details about the hourly rates earned by them.
| State | Hourly Rates Earned by The Associate Professors | Average Salary Earned by Associate Professors |
| 2014 | $49.66 | $103,000 |
| 2015 | $49.55 | $103,000 |
| 2016 | $49.85 | $104,000 |
| 2017 | $47.69 | $99,200 |
| 2018 | $48.92 | $102,000 |
| 2019 | $46.56 | $96,800 |
| 2020 | $45.82 | $95,300 |
| 2021 | $44.77 | $93,100 |
| 2022 | $44.29 | $92,100 |
| 2023 | $44.41 | $92,400 |
Source: NCES, Zippia.
Highest Paying State For Associate Professors in 2024
California is the best state for you if you aim to pursue your career as an associate professor in United Nations. California has consistently been the best state to work as an associate professor. Most of the associate professors in the state reported that they have shifted from other states to California to pursue their dream careers.
Let us look at the states that are best for you if you wish to pursue your career as an associate professor. The following section lists the stats related to the top ten states paying the highest to associate professors.
Top 10+ States That Pay the Highest To Associate Professors
- In California, associate professors earn an average of $135,590.
- $120,285 is the average salary earned by associate professors in Oregon. It provides the second-highest salary to associate professors.
- In addition, $114,423 is the average salary earned by associate professors in Massachusetts.
- It was reported that the associate professors in New York earned an average salary of $114,044.
- $112,289 is the average salary of associate professors in Idaho.
- The associate professors in Utah reported receiving an average annual salary of $111,514.
- In Texas, the associate professors reported earning an annual pay of $107,865.
- In Louisiana, the associate professors reported earning an average salary of $107,100.
- $106,189 is the average salary earned by associate professors in Connecticut.
- The average pay of the associate professors in Alabama was reported to be $105,705.
Sources: NCES, Zippia, Worst Paying States For Associate Professors in 2024.
Associate professors in certain states of the US complain about being underpaid. They receive salaries similar to that of the teachers in other states. Hence, most associate professors must take two jobs to fulfill their basic needs in these states.
Look at the bottom ten states where associate professors earn the lowest salaries.
The Bottom 10+ States Pay the Least Salary to Associate Professors.
In the following table, I have listed the states that pay the least to associate professors in the United Nations.
| State | Average Salary Earned By Associate Professor |
| West Virginia | $58,384 |
| Wyoming | $75,665 |
| Maine | $78,146 |
| Illinois | $79,332 |
| Wisconsin | $79,686 |
| Kentucky | $81,651 |
| Kansas | $82,176 |
| South Dakota | $82,591 |
| Vermont | $83,158 |
| Montana | $83,589 |
Sources: NCES. Zippia.
The Average Salary Of The Associate Professors By State in 2024.
The average salary of associate professors differs from state to state. California pays the highest to the associate professors, while the state pays the least in West Virginia. The following table details the salary earned by associate professors in different states.
| State | Hourly Rate | Average Salary of Associate Professor |
| Alabama | $50.82 | $105,705 |
| Alaska | $47.74 | $99,309 |
| Arizona | $49.26 | $102,456 |
| Arkansas | $47.22 | $98,218 |
| California | $65.19 | $135,590 |
| Colorado | $44.95 | $93,504 |
| Connecticut | $51.05 | $106,189 |
| Delaware | $42.68 | $88,777 |
| District of Columbia | $45.70 | $95,061 |
| Florida | $50.39 | $104,815 |
| Georgia | $48.26 | $100,391 |
| Hawaii | $41.83 | $87,013 |
| Idaho | $53.99 | $112,289 |
| Illinois | $38.14 | $79,332 |
| Indiana | $41.01 | $85,303 |
| Iowa | $42.52 | $88,438 |
| Kansas | $39.51 | $82,176 |
| Kentucky | $39.26 | $81,651 |
| Louisiana | $51.49 | $107,100 |
| Maine | $37.57 | $78,146 |
| Maryland | $46.26 | $96,225 |
| Massachusetts | $55.01 | $114,423 |
| Michigan | $49.01 | $101,932 |
| Minnesota | $48.96 | $101,831 |
| Mississippi | $47.49 | $98,778 |
| Missouri | $44.01 | $91,550 |
| Montana | $40.19 | $83,589 |
| Nebraska | $48.22 | $100,301 |
| Nevada | $44.62 | $92,806 |
| New Hampshire | $42.64 | $88,696 |
| New Jersey | $45.09 | $93,779 |
| New Mexico | $47.65 | $99,102 |
| New York | $54.83 | $114,044 |
| North Carolina | $49.26 | $102,456 |
| North Dakota | $42.38 | $88,160 |
| Ohio | $42.48 | $88,352 |
| Oklahoma | $43.73 | $90,960 |
| Oregon | $57.83 | $120,285 |
| Pennsylvania | $43.66 | $90,819 |
| Rhode Island | $42.40 | $88,185 |
| South Carolina | $41.74 | $86,818 |
| South Dakota | $39.71 | $82,591 |
| Tennessee | $43.39 | $90,257 |
| Texas | $51.86 | $107,865 |
| Utah | $53.61 | $111,514 |
| Vermont | $39.98 | $83,158 |
| Virginia | $44.42 | $92,404 |
| Washington | $50.40 | $104,828 |
| West Virginia | $28.07 | $58,384 |
| Wisconsin | $38.31 | $79,686 |
| Wyoming | $36.38 | $75,665 |
Source: NCES, Zippia.
Highest-Paying Cities For Associate Professors in 2024.
Associate professors earn the highest salary in the state of Los Angeles. Portland and New York follow the city. You can try out for the job openings as associate professors in Los Angeles.
Different cities offer different salaries to associate professors. So let us look at the top 11 cities with the best earnings for associate professors.
Top 10+ Cities Paying Highest To The Associate Professors.
The following table will give you insights into the earnings of associate professors in different cities.
| State | Hourly Rate Earned by The Associate Professors | Average Salary of The Associate Professors |
| Los Angeles | $67.16 | $139,697 |
| Portland | $57.36 | $119,306 |
| New York | $56.11 | $116,706 |
| Boston | $55.72 | $115,904 |
| Lubbock | $54.22 | $112,769 |
| Salt Lake City | $53.65 | $111,599 |
| Gainesville | $53.44 | $111,149 |
| Baton Rouge | $53.12 | $110,498 |
| Birmingham | $51.77 | $107,681 |
| New Haven | $51.69 | $107,508 |
| Columbus | $51.24 | $106,583 |
Source: Zippia, NCES.
Which Companies Pay The Highest to The Associate Professors?
Associate professors are paid fairly by most companies. The top companies pay the highest packages to associate professors in the industry. The company you are working in impact greatly to the earnings that you make as an associate professor.
Here is a list of the top companies that pay the highest to associate professors. You can prefer these companies if you wish to pursue your career as an associate professor.
| Company Name | Hourly Rate Earned by The Associate Professors | Average Salary of The Associate Professors |
| Baylor College of Medicine | $117.05 | $243,466 |
| Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital | $114.16 | $237,463 |
| UTHealth | $109.01 | $226,749 |
| IU Health Inc | $107.88 | $224,399 |
| SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University | $107.04 | $222,645 |
| Albany Medical Center | $106.60 | $221,728 |
| Central Vermont Medical Center | $106.03 | $220,549 |
| Oregon Health & Science University | $103.37 | $215,004 |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | $102.64 | $213,482 |
| Ohio State University Medical Center | $100.43 | $208,891 |
Sources: NCES.
The average salary of an associate professor with different job titles
The associate professors with different job titles and subject responsibilities reported earning salaries with varying ranges. The subjects taught by the associate teachers impact the earnings they earn. Let us look at the average salary earned by associate professors teaching different subjects.
| Job title | Hourly Rate | Salary |
| Assoc. Professor – English | $36.22 | $75,339 |
| Assoc. Professor – History | $37.58 | $78,175 |
| Assoc. Professor – Law | $64.72 | $134,627 |
| Assoc. Professor – Mathematics | $81,902 | $39.38 |
| Assoc. Professor – Music | $36.23 | $75,358 |
| Assoc. Professor – Accounting | $54.05 | $112,423 |
| Assoc. Professor – Architecture | $43.65 | $90,795 |
| Assoc. Professor – Chemistry | $38.22 | $79,503 |
| Assoc. Professor – Communication | $35.88 | $74,621 |
| Assoc. Professor – Dentistry | $55.60 | $115,650 |
Source: salary.com.
How Does The Percentile Affect The Average Salary Of The Associate Professors?
The percentile highly affects the percentile of the associate professors. Professors scoring a high percentile are likelier to get a high-paying job. However, an associate professor who scores low percentile tends to receive low-paying jobs.
The following table highlights the details about the details salaries earned by the professors with different percentiles. It also gives details about the monthly salary and the hourly rates of the associate professors.
| Percentile | Average hourly salary | Average monthly salary | Average annual salary |
| 90th Percentile | $91 | $15,750 | $189,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $68 | $11,833 | $142,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $36 | $6,250 | $75,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $27 | $4,667 | $56,000 |
Source: NCES, Zippia.
Most common benefits for Associate Professors
Associate Professors typically enjoy a range of benefits in recognition of their academic accomplishments and teaching excellence. These benefits include a more competitive salary, better job security than assistant professors, and improved access to research funding and other resources.
Associate Professors may also have more opportunities to mentor and train junior faculty members and serve on hiring and promotion committees. In addition, universities increasingly provide flexible scheduling options and work-life balance programs to support faculty members at all levels.
Overall, the benefits for Associate Professors reflect their demonstrated record of success and expertise in their field, as well as the critical role they play in advancing the mission of their academic institution.
Related Read:
Wrapping Up: Associate Professor Salary (2024)
That’s all about the salary earned by associate professors in the United States.
The professors and the associate professors reported that they earn a fair amount yearly. However, associate professors mostly prefer to search for jobs in California as the state pays the highest to associate professors.
The above article has helped you to get an insight into the earnings of the associate professors. If I have missed any important stats, you can add them in the comment section below. I keep updating my articles and will add them with the required credits.
What is the average salary earned by the associate professors in your city?
FAQs
1. What is the salary of an associate professor in the USA?
The average salary of an associate professor in the USA is reported to be $103,292 per year or $49.66 per hour. The salary for the entry-level position of an associate professor is $59,107.
2. Do professors’ salaries increase every year?
There is a raise in salary according to the tenure or promotion to full professor. However, they do not get raised every year. In some institutes, the raise is given in fixed percentages.
3. Do college professors make six figures?
Some professors, on average, receive a salary of $200,000 per year. Some professors earn high salaries due to the years of experience they have and the knowledge they own.
4. What is the average salary for a college professor with a master’s degree?
Professors with post-graduate degrees earn an average of around $88,600, with a median salary predicted to be $79,640, and the annual salary varies yearly.