Studying and majoring in psychology has exploded in popularity over the last half-century. This is understandable, considering how fascinating some of the subject matter is, psychology's applicability to countless circumstances and roles, as well as due to the growing awareness of a mental health crisis in the United States in recent years. And, when you major in psychology, there are plenty of professional routes to take career-wise, one of which is becoming a psychology professor.
When it comes to college professors and how much they’re paid, a multitude of factors come into play, ranging from the field of study to the geographic location of the institution. In this BrokeScholar study, we break down the financial landscape of psychology professors, highlighting the states where psychology professors earn the highest salaries, contrasted with states where their compensation might be on the lower side.
Read on to find out the average psychology professor salary in every state.
Table of Contents
- How Much Do Psychology Professors Make?
- 10 States With the Highest Psychology Professor Salaries
- 10 States With the Lowest Psychology Professor Salaries
- Table of All States and Psychology Professor Salaries
- The Bottom Line on the Average Psychology Professor Salary
How Much Do Psychology Professors Make?
In order to identify where the average psychology professor salary is highest, BrokeScholar conducted an analysis of the annual wages of psychology professors across the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average psychology professor salary is $88,470 (referred to as “psychology teachers, postsecondary” by the BLS).
The typical psychology professor salary, however, tends to vary significantly from state to state. For instance, in the highest-paying state for psychology professors, the average psychology professor salary is over $19,000 higher than the national average. Furthermore, the state with the highest average psychology professor salary is also over $51,000 higher than in the state with the lowest psychology professor salary.
10 States With the Highest Psychology Professor Salaries
Geographically, the states where psychology professors earn the most money is mainly split between the Northeast and the West. Out of the top 10 states, five states are in the Census-designated Northeast region, four states are in the West region, and one state is in the Midwest. In 15 states, the average psychologyprofessor salary is in excess of $90,000 a year. Here’s a look at the 10 states where psychology professors earn the most money:
1. New Jersey Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $107,730
Median annual wage: $99,560
2. New York Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $105,770
Median annual wage: $99,770
3. Massachusetts Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $99,800
Median annual wage: $81,580
4. Oregon Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $99,470
Median annual wage: $97,270
5. Connecticut Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $98,950
Median annual wage: $98,760
6. Vermont Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $95,710
Median annual wage: $102,530
7. Utah Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $95,640
Median annual wage: $81,350
8. Nevada Pscyhology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $95,180
Median annual wage: $86,890
9. California Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $94,590
Median annual wage: $84,240
10. Michigan Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $93,950
Median annual wage: $83,460
New Jersey takes the No. 1 spot — as it also does in our study of the states with the highest chemistry professor salaries — having an average psychology professor salary of $107,730, up a remarkable 12.2% from last year’s $96,000. On the other hand, in the span of only one year, the average psychology professor salary in the No. 9 highest-paying state — California — witnessed a 17.7% decline, from $114,950 down to $94,590.
10 States With the Lowest Psychology Professor Salaries
Switching to the other end of the spectrum, now we’ll focus on the 10 states where the average psychology professor salary is lowest. Geographically, these states tend to be in the South, the Midwest, and the remainder in the West. The lowest-paying state for psychology professors has an average psychology professor salary that’s nearly $32,000 less than the national average. Here’s a look at the 10 states where psychology professors earn the least money:
1. Hawaii Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $56,560
Median annual wage: $47,620
2. New Mexico Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $58,840
Median annual wage: $54,370
3. Oklahoma Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $62,210
Median annual wage: $60,380
4. Kentucky Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $64,050
Median annual wage: $61,140
5. Mississippi Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $64,640
Median annual wage: $62,390
6. Kansas Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $66,490
Median annual wage: $62,740
7. Wyoming Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $67,730
Median annual wage: $61,430
8. South Dakota Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $69,080
Median annual wage: $63,580
9. West Virginia Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $71,050
Median annual wage: $64,110
10. Arkansas Psychology Professor Salary
Average annual wage: $71,820
Median annual wage: $63,340
In the end, Hawaii takes the cake as the No. 1 lowest-paying state for psychology professors, with an average annual wage of $56,560 per year. Hawaii, in fact, suffered a dramatic decline in its average psychology professor salary over the last year: From an average annual wage of $92,990, it fell by 39.2%, down to $56,560. New Mexico, too, experienced a very similar trend, with its average psychology professor salary falling by 27.1%, from $80,730 to $58,840.
Table of All States and Psychology Professor Salaries
Below you’ll find a table detailing the average psychology professor salary in every state that there is data available for. The BLS does not have wage data for psychology professors in two states: Alaska and Delaware. States are listed in alphabetical order, but their rank in terms of average annual engineering professor salary is included:
| Rank | State | Average Annual Wage | Median Annual Wage |
| 33 | Alabama | $80,090 | $74,310 |
| * | Alaska | * | * |
| 31 | Arizona | $81,140 | $73,500 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $71,820 | $63,340 |
| 9 | California | $94,590 | $84,240 |
| 36 | Colorado | $78,520 | $74,700 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $98,950 | $98,760 |
| * | Delaware | * | * |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $91,090 | $82,510 |
| 29 | Florida | $81,930 | $78,530 |
| 27 | Georgia | $82,710 | $63,390 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $56,560 | $47,620 |
| 35 | Idaho | $79,210 | $70,940 |
| 26 | Illinois | $83,060 | $78,730 |
| 13 | Indiana | $91,070 | $75,860 |
| 16 | Iowa | $87,690 | $76,940 |
| 44 | Kansas | $66,490 | $62,740 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $64,050 | $61,140 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $73,350 | $65,360 |
| 34 | Maine | $79,240 | $69,720 |
| 21 | Maryland | $85,360 | $79,640 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $99,800 | $81,580 |
| 10 | Michigan | $93,950 | $83,460 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $90,550 | $79,930 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $64,640 | $62,390 |
| 28 | Missouri | $82,160 | $75,650 |
| 19 | Montana | $86,470 | $77,360 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $84,240 | $78,270 |
| 8 | Nevada | $95,180 | $86,890 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $87,270 | $78,040 |
| 1 | New Jersey | $107,730 | $99,560 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $58,840 | $54,370 |
| 2 | New York | $105,770 | $99,770 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $76,450 | $65,860 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $85,910 | $79,700 |
| 22 | Ohio | $84,610 | $77,800 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $62,210 | $60,380 |
| 4 | Oregon | $99,470 | $97,270 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $86,520 | $78,990 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $93,020 | $81,480 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $81,310 | $63,240 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $69,080 | $63,580 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $84,050 | $74,710 |
| 14 | Texas | $90,790 | $82,080 |
| 7 | Utah | $95,640 | $81,350 |
| 6 | Vermont | $95,710 | $102,530 |
| 25 | Virginia | $83,700 | $77,010 |
| 39 | Washington | $72,380 | $65,100 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $71,050 | $64,110 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $80,600 | $66,200 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $67,730 | $61,430 |
The Bottom Line on the Average Psychology Professor Salary
The differences in incomes among college psychology professors across different states offer both insights and spark questions. High earning states like No. 1 New Jersey, No. 2 New York, and No. 3 Massachusetts are home to several renowned colleges and universities. Academically highly-rated schools tend to lure top talent while also featuring very competitive undergraduate acceptance rates.
That being said, it's essential to realize that these higher salaries often correlate with higher costs of living and more expensive tuition fees. Therefore, when it comes to aspiring psychology students: Where you choose to study can have a significant impact on both your professors' expertise and your financial considerations.
The study also underscores the importance of scholarships for students pursuing psychology or any other field of study. Scholarships can bridge the financial gap and provide opportunities to study under renowned professors in states where earnings are higher. By diligently researching and applying for scholarships, students can access quality education without being hindered by financial constraints. In addition to scholarships, take advantage of student discounts to lower your day-to-day expenses. This ensures that talent and ambition remain the driving forces in education, rather than economic barriers, keeping the path to academic success within reach for all aspiring scholars.
