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Health specialties professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$107,310median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $59,270lowest 10% earn less
  2. $75,69025th percentile
  3. $107,310median
  4. $210,37075th percentile
  5. $322,020top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median pay for health specialties teachers at colleges and universities was $107,310 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 17.9% from 2025 to 2035[2], and the typical entry requirement is a doctoral or professional degree[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+17.9%[2]
Openings per year
24,900[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[3]

How much do health specialties professors make?

BLS calls this group Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. In May 2025, the median pay was $107,310 a year[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $147,570 a year[7].

Pay varies a lot in this job. The table shows the annual wage boundaries BLS publishes.

Measure Annual wage Meaning
10th percentile[4] $59,270 10% of workers earned less
25th percentile[4] $75,690 25% earned less
Median[1] $107,310 half earned less
75th percentile[4] $210,370 75% earned less
90th percentile[4] $322,020 90% earned less

BLS does not publish a starting salary. It publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries between groups of workers[8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $59,270[4].

For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5]. The median for health specialties teachers was more than double that[1][5].

BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[9]. The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

Among the 49 states and DC with published data, Utah had the highest median at $168,060, followed by the District of Columbia at $167,520 and California at $165,110[11]. West Virginia was last on the list at $60,300[11].

The most jobs were in New York (21,410), Texas (18,960) and California (17,350)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area had the highest median at $357,220[13]. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR followed at $214,790, and Greenville, NC at $181,290[13]. The metro areas with the most jobs were New York-Newark-Jersey City with 15,040 and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington with 11,210[14].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Utah[11]$168,0603,520
District of Columbia$167,5201,460
California$165,11017,350
Washington$137,5204,510
Mississippi$137,2201,890
Colorado$136,9307,800
New Mexico$134,6001,430
Massachusetts$134,52010,250
New York$131,22021,410
Missouri$130,4905,700
Iowa$128,4903,230
Louisiana$125,1302,250
Arkansas$124,8902,080
Michigan$108,9703,430
Maryland$108,1607,460
Texas$108,15018,960
Pennsylvania$107,92014,890
Vermont$107,5001,170
Georgia$106,9604,860
Virginia$106,8805,040
Delaware$105,780260
Rhode Island$103,780480
Minnesota$103,5103,050
North Carolina$103,2209,240
Oregon$103,1802,170
Maine$103,090730
Idaho$101,910n/a
Montana$101,220370
North Dakota$100,760510
Arizona$99,0003,620
Tennessee$98,8704,400
Indiana$98,1704,880
New Jersey$96,6302,960
Wyoming$93,480230
Illinois$92,8607,740
Alabama$92,3103,360
Florida$88,7108,500
Kansas$86,7001,060
New Hampshire$85,250430
Kentucky$83,6801,380
South Carolina$82,4801,030
Wisconsin$81,5004,410
Hawaii$81,480290
Nebraska$80,9602,760
South Dakota$78,720270
Nevada$77,1601,230
Oklahoma$76,450950
Ohio$74,7205,670
Alaska$73,890n/a
West Virginia$60,3002,400

How to become a health specialties professor

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry. It lists less than 5 years of related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[3]. The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for postsecondary teachers covers a wider group of occupations, so its training details describe that wider group[15].

1) Earn a doctoral degree or professional degree[3]. The handbook says teachers at 4-year schools typically need a doctorate in their field[16]. Schools may hire people with a master's degree for some specialties or part-time jobs[16]. Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree, though some prefer a doctorate[17]. 2) Plan for the length of doctoral study[18]. Doctoral programs usually take several years, and a bachelor's or master's degree is typically required to start[18]. The handbook gives no total time for this job. 3) Build hands-on experience[19]. In health specialties, this kind of experience is especially important, and teachers often gain it by working in a related occupation[19]. Some also gain teaching experience as graduate teaching assistants[20]. 4) Check credential rules[21]. A teacher who prepares students for a licensed occupation may need, or benefit from, the same credential. A nursing teacher might need a nursing license[21]. 5) If you want tenure, expect a long road[22]. Reaching it may take up to 7 years of moving through the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor and professor[22].

In an ONET survey of 20 workers, the education level people said their job requires was a master's degree for 36%, a doctoral degree for 25%, post-doctoral training for 19% and a bachelor's degree for 12%[23]. The survey is small, so treat these as survey shares only. ONET places the job in Job Zone Five, which means extensive preparation is needed[24].

What health specialties professors do

These teachers instruct courses in health fields such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy and veterinary medicine[25]. Workers report titles such as assistant professor, associate professor, clinical professor, instructor and lecturer[26]. Tasks listed by O*NET include:

Where they work

The handbook profile covers postsecondary teachers as a group. It names colleges, universities and professional schools run by states as the largest employer, at 41% of jobs[28].

Across postsecondary teachers as a group, full-time work is the usual pattern, and part-time work is common too. Some part-time teachers work at several schools, and some hold a job in their field alongside teaching[29]. Classes are generally held during the day, with some in the evenings or on weekends[30]. Schedules are generally flexible. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours, and otherwise set their own schedules[31]. Some use breaks between terms for research or professional development[32].

BLS also notes that balancing teaching with research and publishing can be stressful, especially for beginning teachers who want to advance[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of health specialties teachers to grow 17.9% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That is from about 278,400 to 328,300 jobs, a gain of 49,900[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[34].

The projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. The May 2025 wage survey counted about 221,270 wage and salary jobs and left out the self-employed[35].

BLS projects about 24,900 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[36].

BLS lists rising demand for health specialty degrees as a factor behind employment growth[37].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with pay well above the all-occupations median and a wide spread from the lowest to the highest earners[1][4][5]. Entry usually calls for a doctoral or professional degree, and doctoral study takes several years[3][18]. Related hands-on experience is especially important in health specialties[19]. Projected growth is well above the rate for all occupations[2][34]. Pay also differs a great deal by state and metro area, so local figures matter[11][13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a health specialties professor make?
The median was $107,310 a year in May 2025, and the mean was $147,570[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $59,270 and the 90th was $322,020[4].
Is there an hourly wage for health specialties professors?
No. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job[9].
What degree do you need to be a health specialties professor?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[3]. Some schools may hire people with a master's degree for certain roles[16][17].
Are health specialties professors in demand?
BLS projects 17.9% job growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 24,900 openings a year[2][34][6].
What is the highest paying state for health specialties professors?
Utah had the highest median at $168,060, followed by the District of Columbia at $167,520 and California at $165,110[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $107,310 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 17.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 278,400 to 328,300 jobs (a change of +49,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $59,270, 25th percentile $75,690, 75th percentile $210,370, 90th percentile $322,020. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 24,900 openings for Health Specialties 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
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary was $147,570 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. 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
  9. BLS publishes only annual wages for Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. Median annual wage for Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York 21,410; Texas 18,960; California 17,350; Pennsylvania 14,890; Massachusetts 10,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $357,220; Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $214,790; Greenville, NC $181,290; Albuquerque, NM $178,290; Jackson, MS $175,090; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $168,720; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $168,060; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $164,860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 15,040 (median $128,090); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 11,210 (median $108,150); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 8,410 (median $134,590); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 7,830 (median $164,450); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 6,710 (median $168,720); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 6,390 (median $101,010). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 25-1071.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 36%, Doctoral Degree 25%, Post-Doctoral Training 19%, Bachelor's Degree 12% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET 25-1071.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET description of Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 25-1071.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Clinical Professor, Instructor, Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Professor, Pharmacology Professor, Physical Therapy Professor. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 221,270 people were employed as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary: Demand change - share increases as demand for health specialty degrees is expected to increase. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

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.