All careers › Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
Philosophy professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $49,140lowest 10% earn less
- $62,60025th percentile
- $80,260median
- $104,77075th percentile
- $139,580top 10% earn more
A philosophy professor, which BLS calls a postsecondary philosophy and religion teacher, had a median pay of $80,260 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, a little slower than the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2%[2]
- Openings per year
- 1,800[6]
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree[7]
How much do philosophy professors make?
The median pay for philosophy and religion teachers in postsecondary schools was $80,260 a year in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $92,040[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].
Pay spreads widely. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49,140, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $62,600[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $104,770, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $139,580[4]. Each percentile is a cutoff point, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].
| Measure | Annual pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[4] | $49,140 | |
| 25th percentile[4] | $62,600 | |
| Median[1] | $80,260 | |
| 75th percentile[4] | $104,770 | |
| 90th percentile[4] | $139,580 |
BLS publishes only yearly wages for this job, not hourly ones[10]. The figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and the value of benefits, and they do not count some bonuses[11].
Pay by state and city
California had the highest state median at $105,820, then Maine at $102,760 and Vermont at $102,600[12]. California also had the most jobs, 1,850, followed by Texas with 1,760 and New York with 1,700[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA had the highest median at $123,650, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $119,530[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had the most jobs at 1,400, with a median of $101,210[15]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin came next with 830 jobs and a median of $78,930[15].
Show median pay in 42 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| California[12] | $105,820 | 1,850 |
| Maine | $102,760 | 60 |
| Vermont | $102,600 | 80 |
| Hawaii | $101,010 | 220 |
| Connecticut | $100,360 | 350 |
| New Jersey | $99,450 | 900 |
| Massachusetts | $98,360 | 890 |
| Utah | $95,410 | 60 |
| New York | $92,050 | 1,700 |
| Michigan | $89,610 | 620 |
| Virginia | $85,310 | 620 |
| Oregon | $85,300 | 480 |
| New Hampshire | $82,820 | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $82,510 | 150 |
| Washington | $81,240 | 330 |
| Indiana | $79,740 | 480 |
| Minnesota | $79,720 | 410 |
| District of Columbia | $79,310 | 290 |
| Wisconsin | $79,140 | 420 |
| Arizona | $78,940 | 350 |
| Maryland | $78,360 | 480 |
| Colorado | $78,060 | 390 |
| Illinois | $77,720 | 1,080 |
| Georgia | $77,570 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $77,230 | 250 |
| Iowa | $77,180 | 260 |
| Ohio | $77,010 | 780 |
| Texas | $76,700 | 1,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,600 | 1,280 |
| North Carolina | $76,340 | 680 |
| Louisiana | $76,310 | 70 |
| Missouri | $75,280 | 320 |
| Nebraska | $75,280 | 80 |
| Arkansas | $74,100 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $74,090 | 490 |
| North Dakota | $71,360 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $65,580 | 320 |
| Kansas | $65,410 | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $64,840 | 150 |
| Mississippi | $63,560 | 90 |
| Florida | $63,330 | 460 |
| Alabama | $62,210 | 280 |
| South Dakota | $58,000 | 40 |
How to become a philosophy professor
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry, with no work experience in a related occupation and no on-the-job training[7]. The training details below come from a BLS profile of postsecondary teachers that covers a wider group of jobs than this one[16].
- First: earn a bachelor's or master's degree, which doctoral programs usually expect[17].
- Next: complete a doctoral program. These usually take several years and often end in a dissertation of original research[17].
- Then: look for a job. Four-year colleges and universities typically want a doctorate, though a master's degree or doctoral candidacy can be enough for some specialties or part-time jobs[18]. Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree, but some prefer a Ph.D.[19]
Some teachers build experience as graduate teaching assistants, who teach classes while enrolled in a graduate program[20]. Schools may also prefer applicants with teaching experience[21].
Teachers with a doctorate often seek tenure, which protects a professor from being fired without just cause. It can take up to 7 years of moving through assistant, associate and full professor ranks[22].
In an O*NET survey of 29 workers, 74% said a doctoral degree is required, 13% said a master's degree and 12% said post-doctoral training[23]. The survey is small, so treat it as a rough picture.
What philosophy professors do
O*NET describes the job as teaching courses in philosophy, religion and theology. Some teachers mainly teach, and others combine teaching with research[24]. Common tasks include:
- Grading students' papers, assignments and exams[25].
- Leading and guiding class discussions[25].
- Giving lectures on topics such as ethics, logic and religious thought[25].
- Preparing syllabi, handouts and other course materials[25].
- Keeping up with the field through reading, colleagues and conferences[25].
- Recording attendance and grades[25].
- Doing research and writing articles or books[25].
- Taking on administrative work, such as leading a department[25].
Where they work
The BLS profile for postsecondary teachers lists colleges, universities and professional schools run by states as the largest employer group, at 41%[26]. Most postsecondary teachers work full time, but part-time work is common[27]. Classes are usually held during the day, with some evening and weekend courses[28]. Full-time teachers generally set their own schedules outside of teaching hours and office hours[29]. Breaks between terms are common, and some teachers use the summer for research[30].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 26,800 to 27,300 jobs[2]. Across all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, and OEWS counted about 20,460 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[31][2].
BLS expects about 1,800 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[32].
Is it a good fit?
The median pay is above the all-occupations median, and the range is wide[1][5][4]. The path is long, since the typical entry education is a doctoral or professional degree[7]. Growth is projected to be slightly below the all-occupations rate[2][3]. The tenure process can take up to 7 years[22]. This job may suit people who are ready for years of graduate study and who like teaching and research.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a philosophy professor make?
- The median was $80,260 a year in May 2025, and the average was $92,040[1][8].
- What degree do you need to be a philosophy 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[19].
- Is philosophy professor a growing job?
- BLS projects 2% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 1,800 openings a year[2][3][6].
- What is the highest paying state for philosophy professors?
- California had the highest median at $105,820 a year[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $80,260 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 26,800 to 27,300 jobs (a change of +500). 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 Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $49,140, 25th percentile $62,600, 75th percentile $104,770, 90th percentile $139,580. 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 1,800 openings for Philosophy and Religion 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 Philosophy and Religion 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 Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary was $92,040 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 Philosophy and Religion 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 Philosophy and Religion 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 Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: California 1,850; Texas 1,760; New York 1,700; Pennsylvania 1,280; Illinois 1,080. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $123,650; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $119,530; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $103,320; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $103,140; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $101,210; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $100,770; Urban Honolulu, HI $100,190; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $100,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,400 (median $101,210); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 830 (median $78,930); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 690 (median $100,770); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 670 (median $103,320); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 550 (median $77,870); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 510 (median $79,310). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Philosophy and Religion 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: Education. 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
- O*NET 25-1126.00 survey of workers (29 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 74%, Master's Degree 13%, Post-Doctoral Training 12% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Philosophy and Religion 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 20,460 people were employed as Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Philosophy and Religion 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.