All careers › Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Political science professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $56,450lowest 10% earn less
- $73,26025th percentile
- $98,070median
- $129,13075th percentile
- $174,660top 10% earn more
The median pay for postsecondary political science teachers was $98,070 a year, well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement[3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.5%[5]
- Openings per year
- 1,500[6]
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree[3]
How much do political science professors make?
The median pay for a political science professor was $98,070 a year in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $108,100[7]. The median across all occupations was $50,980[2]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages, because many of these teachers do not work a full 2,080-hour year yet are paid by the year[8].
Pay varied widely[4]:
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $56,450[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. These 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]. About 16,970 people held these jobs[11].
Pay by state and city
Massachusetts had the highest median pay at $128,150, followed by California at $124,890 and New Hampshire at $124,110[12]. Arkansas had the lowest listed median at $58,350[12].
Texas had the most jobs with 1,890, followed by New York with 1,460, the District of Columbia with 1,120, California with 1,060 and Massachusetts with 920[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Ann Arbor, MI had the highest median at $137,430, followed by Boston-Cambridge-Newton at $131,690[14]. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area had the most jobs with 1,480 and a median of $102,310[15].
Show median pay in 44 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts[12] | $128,150 | 920 |
| California | $124,890 | 1,060 |
| New Hampshire | $124,110 | 90 |
| Montana | $109,050 | n/a |
| Vermont | $107,490 | 80 |
| Michigan | $107,060 | 380 |
| Maryland | $105,630 | 370 |
| New York | $104,050 | 1,460 |
| District of Columbia | $102,310 | 1,120 |
| Virginia | $101,430 | 830 |
| Rhode Island | $101,320 | 170 |
| Washington | $101,140 | 450 |
| Illinois | $100,700 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $100,260 | 650 |
| Connecticut | $100,230 | 320 |
| Arizona | $99,910 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,230 | 660 |
| Minnesota | $97,170 | 250 |
| Maine | $96,760 | 60 |
| Missouri | $94,500 | 280 |
| Nevada | $93,300 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $88,090 | 70 |
| Texas | $86,950 | 1,890 |
| Nebraska | $86,380 | 50 |
| Wyoming | $84,750 | 40 |
| Indiana | $83,770 | 630 |
| Oregon | $83,580 | 540 |
| Wisconsin | $83,190 | 290 |
| Tennessee | $81,330 | 250 |
| New Mexico | $80,640 | 40 |
| Utah | $80,610 | 70 |
| Iowa | $80,160 | 100 |
| Ohio | $80,090 | 460 |
| Georgia | $79,870 | 470 |
| Kansas | $78,800 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $78,760 | 440 |
| Kentucky | $78,670 | 140 |
| South Carolina | $78,650 | 210 |
| Alabama | $77,860 | 180 |
| Florida | $77,860 | 270 |
| West Virginia | $77,420 | 70 |
| South Dakota | $72,580 | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $63,400 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $59,270 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $58,350 | 80 |
How to become a political science professor
The training details here come from a Postsecondary Teachers profile that covers a wider group of occupations than this page[16].
- First: earn a doctoral or professional degree. BLS lists this as the typical entry education, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[3]. In an O*NET survey of 33 workers, 97% said a doctoral degree is required[17].
- Next: know that the doctorate takes several years. Applicants to doctoral programs usually already hold a bachelor's or master's degree, and most Ph.D. programs involve writing and defending a dissertation of original research[18].
- Then: build teaching experience. Institutions may prefer applicants with teaching or other work experience, and some teachers gain it as graduate teaching assistants[19][20].
Requirements vary by school. A master's degree may be enough at some community colleges, and some schools hire master's holders or doctoral candidates for part-time posts[21][22][23].
Many 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[24].
What political science professors do
They teach political science courses, along with courses on international affairs and international relations. Some mainly teach and others combine teaching with research[25]. Common tasks include[26]:
- Preparing and giving lectures on topics such as political thought, international relations and democracy.
- Leading and moderating classroom discussions.
- Grading papers, assignments and exams.
- Planning and updating course content and materials such as syllabi.
- Doing research and publishing the findings.
- Reading current literature and attending professional conferences.
- Supervising student teaching, internship and research work.
Where they work
In the wider postsecondary teaching profile, colleges, universities and professional schools run by states accounted for 41% of employment among the largest employers listed[27]. Full-time work is common, though part-time work is too[28]. Classes are generally held during the day, with some evening or weekend courses[29]. Full-time teachers usually have to be on campus for classes and office hours, but they set their own schedules otherwise[30]. Academic calendars usually include breaks between terms[31]. Balancing teaching with research and publishing may be stressful, especially for beginners seeking advancement[32].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 21,500 to 22,000 jobs[5]. Employment across all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[33]. These counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the wage and salary count above[5].
BLS projects about 1,500 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come open when workers retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[34].
Is it a good fit?
The facts describe a job with high median pay[1][2]. The path is long, since a doctoral degree is the typical entry requirement and doctoral programs usually take several years[3][18]. Growth is projected slightly below the all-occupations rate[5][33]. Pay also varies a lot by state[12]. The work blends teaching with research for some professors[25].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a political science professor make?
- The median was $98,070 a year in May 2025, and the average was $108,100[1][7]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job[8].
- What degree do you need to be a political science professor?
- BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[3]. A master's degree may be enough at some community colleges[21].
- How long does it take to become a political science professor?
- Doctoral programs usually take several years, and students typically need a bachelor's or master's degree first[18]. Tenure may take up to 7 years more[24].
- Is political science professor a growing job?
- Employment is projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[5][33]. About 1,500 openings a year are projected[6].
- What is the highest paying state for political science professors?
- Massachusetts, with a median of $128,150, followed by California at $124,890[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $98,070 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 Political 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, annual wage percentiles for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $56,450, 25th percentile $73,260, 75th percentile $129,130, 90th percentile $174,660. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 21,500 to 22,000 jobs (a change of +500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,500 openings for Political 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 OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary was $108,100 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Political 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: 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 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 OEWS, May 2025: about 16,970 people were employed as Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Political 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 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: Texas 1,890; New York 1,460; District of Columbia 1,120; California 1,060; Massachusetts 920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Ann Arbor, MI $137,430; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $131,690; College Station-Bryan, TX $126,240; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $119,590; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $118,950; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $107,170; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $107,070; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $105,090. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,480 (median $102,310); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,220 (median $107,070); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 670 (median $131,690); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 430 (median $82,480); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 420 (median $119,590); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 360 (median $102,960). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 25-1065.00 survey of workers (33 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 97% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- 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. 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: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Political 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: 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 Political 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.