Education30% remote-eligible+2.1% YoY growth

University Professor Salary
by City (2026)

Teach university courses, conduct research, and publish academic scholarship. National median: $90K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$90K

Top 10% earn

$190K

Entry level

$65K

Salary growth

+2.1%/yr

University Professor salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$85K	$117K	$169K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$83K	$115K	$166K	210	9.3%
Washington, DC	$81K	$113K	$163K	152	8.5%
New York City, NY	$80K	$111K	$160K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$79K	$110K	$159K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$80K	$110K	$160K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$80K	$110K	$160K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$78K	$108K	$156K	175	None ✓
Boston, MA	$78K	$108K	$156K	162	5%
Irvine, CA	$77K	$107K	$155K	172	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$77K	$106K	$153K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$76K	$105K	$152K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$76K	$105K	$152K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$75K	$104K	$151K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$75K	$103K	$150K	163	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$75K	$103K	$150K	120	5%
Arlington, VA	$75K	$103K	$150K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$75K	$103K	$150K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$75K	$103K	$149K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$74K	$102K	$148K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$73K	$101K	$146K	148	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$73K	$101K	$145K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$73K	$101K	$146K	150	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$73K	$101K	$146K	150	None ✓
Rockville, MD	$73K	$101K	$145K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$72K	$100K	$144K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$72K	$100K	$144K	145	10.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$72K	$99K	$143K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$72K	$99K	$143K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$72K	$99K	$143K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$72K	$99K	$143K	192	11%
Chula Vista, CA	$71K	$98K	$141K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$71K	$98K	$142K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$71K	$98K	$141K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$71K	$98K	$141K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$70K	$97K	$140K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$70K	$97K	$140K	155	9.3%
Portland, OR	$70K	$97K	$140K	130	9.9%
Anchorage, AK	$70K	$97K	$140K	128	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$68K	$95K	$137K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$68K	$95K	$137K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$68K	$95K	$137K	118	4.55%
Durham, NC	$68K	$95K	$137K	100	4.75%
Madison, WI	$68K	$95K	$137K	102	5.3%
Minneapolis, MN	$68K	$95K	$137K	106	6.8%
St. Paul, MN	$68K	$95K	$137K	104	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$68K	$94K	$135K	122	6.99%
Frisco, TX	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$67K	$93K	$134K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$67K	$93K	$134K	118	5.99%
Austin, TX	$66K	$92K	$133K	110	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$66K	$92K	$132K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$66K	$92K	$132K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$66K	$92K	$132K	115	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$66K	$92K	$133K	102	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$66K	$92K	$132K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$66K	$92K	$132K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$66K	$92K	$132K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$66K	$92K	$132K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$66K	$92K	$132K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$66K	$91K	$131K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$66K	$91K	$131K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$66K	$91K	$131K	112	4.75%
Plano, TX	$65K	$90K	$130K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$65K	$90K	$130K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$65K	$90K	$130K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$65K	$90K	$130K	118	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$65K	$90K	$130K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$65K	$90K	$130K	108	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$65K	$90K	$130K	112	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$65K	$90K	$130K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$65K	$90K	$130K	99	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$65K	$90K	$130K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$65K	$90K	$131K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$65K	$90K	$130K	105	4.85%
Provo, UT	$65K	$90K	$130K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$65K	$90K	$130K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$65K	$90K	$130K	108	6.6%
Dallas, TX	$64K	$89K	$129K	96	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$64K	$89K	$129K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$64K	$89K	$129K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$64K	$89K	$129K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$64K	$89K	$129K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$64K	$89K	$129K	105	5.8%
Houston, TX	$64K	$88K	$127K	91	None ✓
Irving, TX	$64K	$88K	$127K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$64K	$88K	$127K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$63K	$88K	$127K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$64K	$88K	$128K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$63K	$88K	$127K	100	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$64K	$88K	$127K	90	6.85%
Tampa, FL	$64K	$88K	$127K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$63K	$88K	$127K	100	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$64K	$88K	$127K	118	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$64K	$88K	$127K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$64K	$88K	$127K	105	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$63K	$88K	$127K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$64K	$88K	$127K	100	4.75%
Richmond, VA	$64K	$88K	$127K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$64K	$88K	$127K	102	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$64K	$88K	$127K	90	3.99%
Rochester, MN	$63K	$88K	$127K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$63K	$88K	$127K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$63K	$88K	$127K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$64K	$88K	$128K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$63K	$88K	$127K	100	6.6%
Fort Worth, TX	$63K	$87K	$126K	93	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$63K	$87K	$126K	94	None ✓
Albany, NY	$63K	$87K	$126K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$63K	$87K	$126K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$63K	$87K	$126K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$63K	$87K	$126K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$63K	$87K	$126K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$63K	$87K	$126K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$63K	$87K	$126K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$63K	$87K	$126K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$63K	$87K	$126K	98	7.15%
San Antonio, TX	$62K	$86K	$125K	87	None ✓
Garland, TX	$62K	$86K	$125K	91	None ✓
Midland, TX	$62K	$86K	$124K	92	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$62K	$86K	$125K	95	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$62K	$86K	$124K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$62K	$86K	$124K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$62K	$86K	$125K	100	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$62K	$86K	$125K	105	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$62K	$86K	$125K	95	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$62K	$86K	$124K	98	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$62K	$86K	$125K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$62K	$86K	$124K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$62K	$86K	$124K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$62K	$86K	$125K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$62K	$86K	$125K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$62K	$86K	$125K	95	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$62K	$86K	$124K	88	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$62K	$86K	$125K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$62K	$86K	$124K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$62K	$86K	$125K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$62K	$86K	$124K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$62K	$86K	$125K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$62K	$86K	$124K	92	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$62K	$86K	$124K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$62K	$86K	$125K	108	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$62K	$86K	$124K	88	5%
Charleston, SC	$62K	$86K	$125K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$62K	$86K	$125K	95	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$62K	$86K	$124K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$62K	$86K	$124K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$61K	$85K	$123K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	6.85%
Tallahassee, FL	$61K	$85K	$123K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$61K	$85K	$123K	90	4.95%
Greensboro, NC	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$61K	$85K	$123K	90	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$61K	$85K	$123K	90	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$61K	$85K	$123K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$61K	$85K	$122K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$60K	$84K	$121K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$60K	$83K	$120K	102	9.3%
Spokane, WA	$60K	$83K	$120K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$60K	$83K	$120K	90	2.5%
Pueblo, CO	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	4.25%
Grand Rapids, MI	$60K	$83K	$120K	90	4.25%
South Bend, IN	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$60K	$83K	$120K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$60K	$83K	$120K	88	6.5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$60K	$83K	$120K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$60K	$83K	$120K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$60K	$83K	$120K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$59K	$82K	$118K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	5.75%
Toledo, OH	$59K	$82K	$118K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$59K	$82K	$118K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$59K	$82K	$118K	78	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$59K	$82K	$118K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$60K	$82K	$119K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$59K	$82K	$118K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$59K	$81K	$117K	82	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$59K	$81K	$117K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$59K	$81K	$117K	75	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$59K	$81K	$117K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$59K	$81K	$117K	82	5%
New Orleans, LA	$59K	$81K	$117K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$59K	$81K	$117K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$59K	$81K	$117K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$59K	$81K	$117K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$59K	$81K	$117K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$57K	$79K	$114K	78	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$57K	$79K	$114K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$57K	$79K	$114K	82	None ✓
Oklahoma City, OK	$57K	$79K	$114K	82	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$57K	$79K	$114K	82	5.7%
Little Rock, AR	$57K	$79K	$114K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$55K	$77K	$111K	76	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$56K	$77K	$112K	80	4.75%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $90K University Professor salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

University Professor Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a University Professor is $90,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $65,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $130,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of University Professors nationally earn $190,000+.

Education and requirements

PhD in relevant field required. This role is 30% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

University Professor compensation is growing at 2.1% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

University Professor salary FAQ

How much does a University Professor make?

The median University Professor salary in the US is $90,000 per year — about $43/hour. Most earn between $65,000 (25th percentile) and $130,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a University Professor?

Entry-level University Professor positions typically start around $65,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid University Professors earn?

The top 10% of University Professors earn $190,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays University Professors the most?

San Francisco has the highest median University Professor salary at $117K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are University Professor salaries going up?

Yes — University Professor pay is growing about 2.1% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

University Professor Salaryby City (2026)