CareerFacts

All careers › Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Psychology professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$80,340median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $49,050lowest 10% earn less
  2. $63,40025th percentile
  3. $80,340median
  4. $105,92075th percentile
  5. $153,600top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A psychology professor, which BLS calls a postsecondary psychology teacher, had a median pay of $80,340 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4%[2]
Openings per year
3,700[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[7]

How much do psychology professors make?

The median pay for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary was $80,340 a year in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean, or average, was $93,860[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49,050, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $153,600[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $49,050
25th percentile[4] $63,400
Median[1] $80,340
75th percentile[4] $105,920
90th percentile[4] $153,600

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 that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest state median at $107,340[12]. Delaware came next at $102,340, then Maryland at $101,430[12]. Arkansas had the lowest listed median at $60,730[12].

The most jobs were in California (4,410), New York (4,070) and Texas (3,380)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Ann Arbor, MI had the highest median at $142,840[14]. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA followed at $137,810, and Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $133,880[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 3,950, with a median of $102,740[15].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$107,3404,410
Delaware$102,340n/a
Maryland$101,430640
District of Columbia$101,250340
New York$100,7204,070
Michigan$99,900920
North Dakota$97,11060
New Hampshire$95,030110
Rhode Island$94,360180
Utah$93,090200
Louisiana$91,340140
Connecticut$84,500920
New Mexico$83,600100
Idaho$83,010180
Massachusetts$82,9302,640
Minnesota$82,640760
Maine$81,660110
Nevada$81,300140
Vermont$81,100100
New Jersey$80,7901,630
Oregon$80,060660
Kansas$79,730230
Georgia$79,440820
Missouri$79,240590
Alaska$79,04070
Arizona$78,610940
Ohio$78,5301,500
Iowa$78,450320
Washington$78,330840
Virginia$77,9501,050
Illinois$77,8602,260
Indiana$77,820760
Wisconsin$77,580630
Nebraska$77,340170
Montana$77,12090
Texas$77,0603,380
Colorado$76,810960
Tennessee$76,010790
Pennsylvania$75,9602,120
Alabama$75,340610
North Carolina$75,2601,100
South Carolina$74,890390
Kentucky$74,520590
West Virginia$74,280150
Florida$69,0501,120
Wyoming$65,05080
South Dakota$65,02070
Mississippi$62,590260
Oklahoma$61,720410
Arkansas$60,730190

How to become a psychology professor

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience in a related occupation and no on-the-job training[7].

BLS describes the wider postsecondary teacher group, so the details below are about that group and not only psychology[16].

In an ONET survey of 31 workers in this occupation, 55% said a doctoral degree is required, 31% said post-doctoral training and 15% said a master's degree[23]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Five, which means extensive preparation is needed[24].

What psychology professors do

They teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical and developmental psychology. Some mainly teach, and others combine teaching with research[25]. O*NET lists these tasks, most important first[26]:

Where they work

Colleges, universities and professional schools (state) were the largest employer group of postsecondary teachers, at 41% in 2025[27]. Most work full time, and part-time work is common[28]. Courses are generally held during the day, with some evening and weekend classes[29].

Schedules are generally flexible. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours, and otherwise set their own schedules[30]. Breaks between terms are typical, and some teachers use summers to do research[31]. Balancing teaching with research and publishing can be stressful, especially for beginners seeking advancement[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 52,300 to 54,400 jobs[2]. For all occupations the projection is 3.5%[3]. So growth is a little faster than average.

BLS expects about 3,700 openings a year[6]. These 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[33]. Only 0.3% were self-employed in 2025[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who are ready for a long stretch of study. A doctoral degree is the typical entry level[7], and doctoral programs usually take several years[17]. Pay is above the all-occupations median[1][5], though the range is wide[4]. Job growth is a little above the all-occupations rate[2][3], and about 3,700 openings a year are expected[6]. Pay varies a lot by state[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a psychology professor make?
The median pay was $80,340 a year in May 2025, and the mean was $93,860[1][8]. BLS does not publish hourly wages for this job[10].
What degree do you need to be a psychology professor?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[7]. Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree[19].
Is psychology professor a growing job?
BLS projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 3,700 openings a year are expected[6].
What is the highest paying state for psychology professors?
California had the highest median at $107,340 in May 2025[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $80,340 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 52,300 to 54,400 jobs (a change of +2,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $49,050, 25th percentile $63,400, 75th percentile $105,920, 90th percentile $153,600. 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 3,700 openings for Psychology 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 Employment Projections, typical path into Psychology 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
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary was $93,860 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. 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
  10. BLS publishes only annual wages for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. Median annual wage for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: California 4,410; New York 4,070; Texas 3,380; Massachusetts 2,640; Illinois 2,260. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Ann Arbor, MI $142,840; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $137,810; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $133,880; Fresno, CA $133,490; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $129,610; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $126,690; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $105,720; Lansing-East Lansing, MI $104,480. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,950 (median $102,740); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,830 (median $101,980); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,690 (median $82,930); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,620 (median $77,860); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 860 (median $77,840); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 710 (median $100,980). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. 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: Education. 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: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 25-1066.00 survey of workers (31 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 55%, Post-Doctoral Training 31%, Master's Degree 15% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET 25-1066.00: 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 Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. 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. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 0.3% of Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. 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.