HOW PAID: College Professors?

Posted on December 17, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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How College Professors Are Paid

The compensation of college professors in the United States is a complex system shaped by multiple factors. Unlike many professions with standardized pay scales, professor salaries vary significantly depending on academic rank, institution type, discipline, and geographic location. Understanding how professors are paid requires examining these dimensions in detail.

Academic Rank

Professors’ salaries are closely tied to their academic rank. Instructors and lecturers, who often hold temporary or non-tenure-track positions, typically earn the lowest salaries. Assistant professors, usually early in their careers, earn more as they begin to establish themselves in academia. Associate professors, often mid-career and tenured, receive higher pay, while full professors, who are senior faculty members, earn the most. This progression reflects both experience and the responsibilities associated with each rank.

Institution Type

The type of institution also plays a major role in determining pay. Public universities often provide competitive salaries, while private universities vary widely depending on prestige and resources. Elite private schools, such as Ivy League institutions, tend to offer the highest salaries. Community colleges generally pay less than four-year universities, reflecting differences in funding and mission. Research universities, which emphasize scholarship and grant acquisition, often provide the most lucrative compensation packages.

Field of Study

Discipline is another key factor. Professors in high-demand or lucrative fields such as medicine, law, business, and engineering earn significantly more than those in education, humanities, or the arts. This disparity reflects market demand and the potential for outside earnings. For example, medical school faculty may earn well above six figures, while professors in the humanities often earn considerably less.

Geographic Location

Location influences pay through cost of living and state funding. Professors in states with strong economies and large populations tend to earn higher salaries, while those in rural or less affluent states may earn less. Metropolitan areas often provide higher wages to offset living expenses, though this does not always guarantee greater financial comfort.

Tenure and Unionization

Tenure provides job security and often comes with higher pay. Unionized faculty also tend to earn more, as collective bargaining can secure better salary increases and benefits. Non-tenure-track faculty, adjuncts, and graduate assistants often earn far less, with adjuncts frequently paid per course and graduate assistants receiving modest stipends. This creates a significant divide between tenured professors and contingent faculty.

CONCLUSIONS

Professors may supplement their income through research grants, consulting work, publishing books or articles, and administrative roles such as serving as department chair. These opportunities can add substantially to their base salary, especially at research-focused institutions.

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Understanding Doctorate Degrees: A Clear Guide

Posted on October 18, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

Is the Doctor – In?

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

INFO-GRAPHIC

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What Is a Doctorate Degree?

Doctorate, or doctoral, is an umbrella term for many degrees — PhD among them — at the height of the academic ladder. Doctorate degrees fall under two categories, and here is where the confusion often lies. 

The first category, Research (also referred to as Academic) includes, among others:

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  • Doctor of Education (EdD)
  • Doctor of Theology (ThD) 

The second category, Applied (also referred to as Professional) includes, among others:

  • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
  • Doctor Of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
  • Doctor of Optometry (OD)
  • Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
  • Juris Doctor (JD) 

As you can see, applied doctorates are generally paired with very specific careers – medical doctors, podiatrists, dentists, optometrists, psychologists, and law professionals. 

When it comes to outlining the differences between a PhD and doctorate, the real question should be, “What is the difference between a PhD and an applied doctorate?” The answer, again, can be found in the program outcomes. The online Doctor of Psychology at UAGC, for example, lists outcomes that are heavily focused on the ability to put theory into practice in a professional setting. For example: 

  • Apply best practices in the field regarding professional values, ethics, attitudes, and behaviors
  • Exhibit culturally diverse standards in working professionally with individuals, groups, and communities who represent various cultural and personal backgrounds
  • Utilize a comprehensive psychology knowledge base grounded in theoretical models, evidence-based methods, and research in the discipline
  • Integrate leadership skills appropriate in the field of psychology
  • Critically evaluate applied psychology research methods, trends, and concepts

Bottom line: As the PhD is more academic, research-focused, and heavy on theory, an applied doctorate degree is intended to master a subject in both theory and practice. 

Can a PhD Be Called a Doctor?

The debate over whether a PhD graduate should be called a doctor has existed for decades, and if you’re a member of this exclusive club, you’ll no doubt hear both sides of the argument during your lifetime. After all, if a PhD is a doctor, can a person with a doctoral degree in music – the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) – be called a doctor as well?

Those in favor argue that having “Dr.” attached to your name indicates that you are an expert and should be held in higher regard. For some, the debate is at the heart of modern gender disparity. For example, on social media and in some academic circles, there is an argument that female PhD holders should use the “Dr.” title in order to reject the notion that women are less worthy of adding the title to their name once they have earned a doctoral degree.

The American Psychological Association has, for years, challenged the Associated Press (AP) and other news outlets to broaden its use of “Dr.” beyond those that practice medicine – MDs, podiatrists, dentists, etc. – in its reporting. However, the organization was rebuked, as the AP argued that, “It comes down to a basic distinction. Psychologists earn PhDs, and AP style allows the ‘Dr.’ title only for those with medical degrees.”

The AP has, thus far, refused to change their style guide when it comes to the “doctor question.” 

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