The Average University Faculty Salaries
- According to the 2010-2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, as of May 2008 over 1.7 million post-secondary educators were employed by universities and colleges across the United States. Employment among post-secondary educators is expected to grow by 15 percent from 2008 to 2018 due to increases in university enrollment across the country. This growth is faster than the average of all other occupations according to the BLS. As of May 2008, the median annual earnings of all university faculty was $58,830. The middle 50 percent earned between $41,600 and $83,960.
- Pay scale for an educator at a college or university depends greatly on the educator's level of experience, his degrees and his "rank" among other faculty members. According to the BLS, the American Association of University Professors stated the salary of a full-time university faculty member averaged $79,439 per year in a 2008-2009 survey. This figure increased dramatically if the faculty member was a full professor --- the highest faculty rank. A full professor's salary averaged $108,749.
- Associate professors earned an average salary of $76,147 per year according to the BLS. Assistant professors earned slightly less with an average salary of $63,827. University instructors earned the lowest salary with an average annual wage of $45,977. University lecturers earned an average annual salary of $52,436. Lecturers typically earn more than instructors because lecturers tend to be more accredited. Lecturers also give talks and symposiums in addition to normal teaching duties which the university advertises and uses to generate revenue for the school.
- Faculty employed by four-year academic institutions earn more than those employed by two-year community colleges or technical schools. The pay scale of faculty members also varies depending on whether the university or college is a private or publicly funded institution. According to the BLS, faculty employed by private universities earned an average salary of $92,257 per year as of 2008-2009. Those employed by public universities earned an average salary of $77,009. Private universities or colleges with a religious affiliation paid faculty members an average salary of $71,857 during that same time period.
National Employment Numbers
Full Professors
Other Faculty Members
Private Versus Public
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