All careers › Law Teachers, Postsecondary
Law professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $64,250lowest 10% earn less
- $88,70025th percentile
- $128,500median
- $176,49075th percentile
- $287,900top 10% earn more
A law professor (BLS title: law teachers, postsecondary) earned a median of $128,500 a year in May 2025, far above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. The typical entry path needs a doctoral or professional degree[3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.6%[5]
- Openings per year
- 1,800[6]
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree[3]
How much do law professors make?
The median pay for postsecondary law teachers was $128,500 a year[1]. The median is the midpoint: half of workers are paid above it and half below[1]. The mean (average) was $144,770[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2]. BLS gives no hourly wage for this job. Many of these teachers work under 2,080 hours a year but are paid by the year[8].
The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,250, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $88,700[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $176,490, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $287,900[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].
| Measure | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile[4] | $64,250 |
| 25th percentile[4] | $88,700 |
| Median[1] | $128,500 |
| 75th percentile[4] | $176,490 |
| 90th percentile[4] | $287,900 |
These figures cover about 20,060 salaried jobs[10]. They leave out self-employed people, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. Only 0.3% of law teachers were self-employed in 2025[12].
Pay by state and city
Among the 32 states and DC with published data, Minnesota had the highest median at $171,790, followed by Oregon at $167,010 and South Carolina at $162,400[13]. Minnesota had 80 jobs[13].
California has the most jobs at 7,800[14]. New York (2,190), Texas (880), Massachusetts (840) and Florida (720) come next[14].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Boston-Cambridge-Newton had the highest median at $170,310, followed by New York-Newark-Jersey City at $144,130 and Baltimore-Columbia-Towson at $139,980[15]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area had the most jobs at 2,940, with a median of $114,330[16].
Show median pay in 32 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota[13] | $171,790 | 80 |
| Oregon | $167,010 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $162,400 | 110 |
| Iowa | $160,700 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $157,800 | 90 |
| Michigan | $141,680 | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $140,940 | 150 |
| Kentucky | $140,820 | 120 |
| Maryland | $139,980 | 180 |
| Indiana | $139,400 | 180 |
| Kansas | $138,670 | 50 |
| Texas | $138,160 | 880 |
| Maine | $136,400 | 50 |
| Virginia | $136,270 | 400 |
| New Jersey | $135,760 | 470 |
| Alabama | $135,340 | 40 |
| District of Columbia | $134,090 | 670 |
| New York | $132,180 | 2,190 |
| Massachusetts | $132,010 | 840 |
| Arizona | $131,950 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $128,490 | n/a |
| Nebraska | $127,690 | 100 |
| Washington | $125,210 | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $121,310 | 710 |
| California | $119,540 | 7,800 |
| Illinois | $107,700 | 470 |
| Idaho | $106,810 | 40 |
| Florida | $102,720 | 720 |
| North Carolina | $97,090 | 450 |
| Arkansas | $95,630 | 30 |
| Ohio | $75,930 | 250 |
| Mississippi | $74,440 | 40 |
| Utah | $68,270 | 120 |
How to become a law professor
The typical entry path needs a doctoral or professional degree and less than 5 years of related work experience[3]. No on-the-job training is typical[3]. The training details in this section come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of postsecondary teachers[17]. The steps look like this:
- First: earn an advanced degree. Postsecondary teachers at 4-year colleges and universities typically need a doctorate in their field[18]. For some specialties or part-time jobs, schools may hire people with a master's degree[18].
- Next: build related experience. In some fields, including law, hands-on work experience is especially important, and teachers often gain it by working in a related occupation[19].
- Then: consider teaching experience. Some teachers gain it as graduate teaching assistants[20].
- Later: some teachers with a doctorate seek tenure, which is a guarantee against dismissal without just cause. It may take up to 7 years[21].
Doctoral programs usually take several years, and applicants typically hold an earlier bachelor's or master's degree[22]. In an O*NET survey of 33 workers, 46% said a first professional degree was the required level, 35% said a doctoral degree and 15% said a master's degree[23].
What law professors do
Law teachers teach courses in law. Some mainly teach, and others combine teaching with research[24]. Typical tasks include:
- Leading and moderating class discussions[25].
- Preparing course materials such as syllabi, assignments and handouts[25].
- Writing, giving and grading exams, or handing that work to others[25].
- Grading papers, assignments and oral presentations[25].
- Giving lectures on topics such as civil procedure, contracts and torts[25].
- Doing research and publishing the findings[25].
- Reading current literature and attending conferences to keep up with the field[25].
- Revising courses and teaching methods[25].
Critical thinking matters for the research side of the work[26].
Where they work
In the BLS profile, colleges, universities and professional schools (state) were the largest employer group, at 41% of postsecondary teachers in 2025[27]. This figure describes the wider group[17].
Most postsecondary teachers work full time, though part-time work is common. Some part-timers have a full-time job in their field. For example, a working lawyer or judge might teach a class in the evening[28]. Classes are generally held during the day, with some evening or weekend courses[29]. Full-time teachers usually need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours, but otherwise set their own schedules[30]. Academic calendars include breaks, and some teachers use the summer for research[31].
Balancing teaching with research and publishing can be stressful, especially for beginning teachers seeking advancement[32].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 25,800 to 26,500 jobs, a gain of 700[5]. That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[33]. These counts include self-employed workers[5].
About 1,800 openings a year are projected on average[6]. These openings count jobs left by retirements and job changes as well as newly created ones[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[34].
Is it a good fit?
Pay is well above the all-occupations median, with a wide range from the bottom to the top[1][2][4]. The entry bar is high. It means a doctoral or professional degree, and some related experience[3]. Growth is slower than average, and the job count is small[5][33][10]. The facts suggest the job suits people who want to combine teaching with research and are ready for a long path through advanced study[24][22].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a law professor make?
- The median was $128,500 a year in May 2025, and the mean was $144,770[1][7]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job[8].
- What degree do you need to be a law professor?
- The typical entry path needs a doctoral or professional degree[3].
- How many years of experience do law professors need?
- The typical entry path lists less than 5 years of related work experience[3].
- Is law teaching in demand?
- Employment is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035[5], against 3.5% for all occupations[33]. About 1,800 openings a year are projected[6].
- What is the highest paying state for law professors?
- Minnesota had the highest median at $171,790, followed by Oregon at $167,010[13].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Law Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $128,500 per year. Half of workers earned more and half 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, typical path into Law 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Law Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $64,250, 25th percentile $88,700, 75th percentile $176,490, 90th percentile $287,900. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Law Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 25,800 to 26,500 jobs (a change of +700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,800 openings for Law 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 OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Law Teachers, Postsecondary was $144,770 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Law 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: 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 OEWS, May 2025: about 20,060 people were employed as Law Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). 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
- BLS Employment Projections: 0.3% of Law Teachers, Postsecondary were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Median annual wage for Law 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 Law Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: California 7,800; New York 2,190; Texas 880; Massachusetts 840; Florida 720. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Law Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $170,310; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $144,130; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $139,980; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $136,570; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $134,090; Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $131,190; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $130,010; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $128,560. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Law Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,940 (median $114,330); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,180 (median $144,130); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 760 (median $130,010); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 740 (median $134,090); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 710 (median $170,310); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 510 (median $128,560). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Law 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: 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
- O*NET 25-1112.00 survey of workers (33 respondents), education level they say is required: First Professional Degree 46%, Doctoral Degree 35%, Master's Degree 15% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Law Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Law Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 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: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Law 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.