Salaries/Teacher vs Professor

Teacher vs Professor Salary

Side-by-side 2026 salary comparison across entry-level, mid-level, and senior pay for Teacher and Professor roles in the US.

Bottom line (mid-level, US median)

Professors earn $40,000 (42% more) than Teachers on average.

Teacher vs Professor by City

LocationTeacher (Mid)Professor (Mid)Difference
New York$74K$128K$-54K
Los Angeles$67K$115K$-48K
Chicago$61K$105K$-44K
Dallas$58K$100K$-42K
Houston$57K$99K$-42K
Washington D.C.$70K$120K$-50K
Philadelphia$59K$102K$-43K
Atlanta$58K$100K$-42K

Education

Teacher

Educate students across K-12 or higher education, develop curriculum, and assess learning outcomes.

See Teacher salaries in all cities →

Education

Professor

Teach, research, and publish at the university level.

See Professor salaries in all cities →
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