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Computer science professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $49,460lowest 10% earn less
- $66,60025th percentile
- $96,980median
- $131,32075th percentile
- $170,200top 10% earn more
A computer science professor, which BLS calls a postsecondary computer science teacher, had a median pay of $96,980 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, a bit faster than the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +4.9%[2]
- Openings per year
- 3,200[6]
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree[7]
How much do computer science professors make?
The median wage was $96,980 a year in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean, or average, was $104,420[8]. For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980[5].
Pay spreads widely. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49,460, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $66,600[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $131,320, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $170,200[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].
BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[10]. The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[11].
Pay by state and city
California had the highest median wage at $128,210, followed by Massachusetts at $128,030 and Utah at $124,460[12]. Arkansas had the lowest listed median at $56,180[12].
Texas had the most jobs at 3,540[13]. New York followed with 3,170 and California with 2,480[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA had the highest median at $166,550[14]. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA followed at $141,210[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 2,830, with a median of $93,980[15].
Show median pay in 47 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| California[12] | $128,210 | 2,480 |
| Massachusetts | $128,030 | 1,490 |
| Utah | $124,460 | 550 |
| Michigan | $107,690 | 810 |
| Oregon | $107,310 | 530 |
| Virginia | $106,780 | 1,670 |
| Nevada | $106,640 | 140 |
| Connecticut | $106,290 | 390 |
| Indiana | $102,660 | 1,240 |
| Delaware | $102,080 | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $101,380 | 210 |
| Rhode Island | $100,790 | 160 |
| Maine | $99,730 | 120 |
| Maryland | $98,850 | 830 |
| Illinois | $98,750 | 1,540 |
| Georgia | $98,030 | 1,160 |
| Wisconsin | $97,730 | 510 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,500 | 1,520 |
| Texas | $97,480 | 3,540 |
| New York | $96,450 | 3,170 |
| Vermont | $94,930 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $94,360 | 260 |
| Alabama | $92,640 | 500 |
| Ohio | $91,230 | 1,180 |
| Washington | $90,950 | 800 |
| Missouri | $90,770 | 510 |
| Iowa | $89,510 | 290 |
| Minnesota | $85,710 | 480 |
| Arizona | $84,050 | 700 |
| New Hampshire | $83,630 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $83,470 | 310 |
| Tennessee | $81,600 | 560 |
| Montana | $81,560 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $81,500 | 1,440 |
| North Dakota | $81,400 | 90 |
| Colorado | $80,530 | 920 |
| North Carolina | $80,080 | 1,650 |
| New Mexico | $79,440 | 200 |
| South Carolina | $78,240 | 380 |
| Louisiana | $77,530 | 200 |
| Florida | $76,950 | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $76,570 | 210 |
| South Dakota | $75,540 | 150 |
| Mississippi | $75,520 | 160 |
| West Virginia | $73,880 | 270 |
| Kansas | $67,400 | 260 |
| Wyoming | $63,900 | 40 |
| Arkansas | $56,180 | 160 |
How to become a computer science professor
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training[7]. The BLS handbook profile covers a wider group of postsecondary teachers, so these training details describe that group too[16].
- First: earn a bachelor's or master's degree. Students typically need one of these to enter a doctoral program[17].
- Next: complete a doctorate. These programs usually take several years, and many require a dissertation that the student defends[17].
- Then: build teaching experience. Some teachers gain it as graduate teaching assistants[18].
- Later: some professors with a doctorate seek tenure, which may take up to 7 years of moving through the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor and professor[19].
There are other routes. Some schools hire people with a master's degree or doctoral candidates for some specialties or part-time posts[20]. Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree, though some prefer a Ph.D.[21].
In an O*NET survey of 28 workers, 47% said a master's degree is required, 42% said a doctoral degree and 11% said a bachelor's degree[22].
What computer science professors do
They teach computer science courses. Some focus on teaching, and others combine teaching with research[23]. Common tasks include:
- Preparing syllabi, homework and handouts[24].
- Writing, giving and grading exams, or handing that work to others[24].
- Lecturing on topics such as programming, data structures and software design[24].
- Grading class work, lab work and papers[24].
- Keeping up with the field through reading, colleagues and conferences[24].
- Revising curricula and teaching methods[24].
- Holding office hours and advising students on academic and career questions[24].
Where they work
In the wider group of postsecondary teachers, 41% worked at state colleges, universities and professional schools in 2025[25]. Most of that group work full time, but part-time work is common[26].
Classes are generally held during the day, with some evening and weekend courses[27]. Full-time teachers usually need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours. Otherwise they set their own schedules[28]. Some use breaks between terms for research or professional development, and summer teaching varies by school[29].
Balancing teaching with research and publishing can be stressful, especially for beginning teachers seeking advancement[30].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 43,900 to 46,100 jobs, a change of 2,200[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].
About 3,200 openings are projected each year[6]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or move to other occupations, and new jobs too[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[31].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is well above the all-occupations median, and the job outlook is slightly ahead of average[1][5][2][3]. The tradeoff is the education. The typical entry level is a doctoral or professional degree, and doctoral programs usually take several years[7][17]. Pay also varies a lot by state, from $56,180 in Arkansas to $128,210 in California[12]. The facts here do not cover tuition or how long the full path takes.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a computer science professor make?
- The median wage was $96,980 a year in May 2025, and the mean was $104,420[1][8].
- What degree do you need to be a computer science professor?
- BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[7]. Some community colleges may hire people with a master's degree[21].
- Is computer science professor a job in demand?
- BLS projects 4.9% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 3,200 openings a year[2][3][6].
- What is the highest paying state for computer science professors?
- California, at a median of $128,210, followed by Massachusetts at $128,030[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $96,980 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 43,900 to 46,100 jobs (a change of +2,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $49,460, 25th percentile $66,600, 75th percentile $131,320, 90th percentile $170,200. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 3,200 openings for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary was $104,420 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: Texas 3,540; New York 3,170; California 2,480; Virginia 1,670; North Carolina 1,650. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $166,550; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $141,210; Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $139,390; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $137,390; Ann Arbor, MI $136,090; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $135,790; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $133,770; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $133,330. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,830 (median $93,980); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,070 (median $99,670); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,060 (median $119,810); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 990 (median $85,120); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 940 (median $97,940); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 820 (median $109,930). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 25-1021.00 survey of workers (28 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 47%, Doctoral Degree 42%, Bachelor's Degree 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.