College Professor.
Philadelphia.
$98,000
median salary, 11% above the national average
$73,000 to $136,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Philadelphia is 9% more expensive than the national average. For College Professors, that shakes out to a median of $98,000, with the full range spanning $73,000 to $136,000. Discipline, institution type, and tenure status create enormous pay variance. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $88,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$64,000
to $78,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$83,000
to $103,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$108,000
to $127,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$123,000
to $152,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $20,000 to the total package.
Base
$98,000
Equity
$11,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $118,000
How Philadelphia compares
Philadelphia, PA
$98,000
Cost of living: 9% above average
National Average
$88,000
Philadelphia is $10,000 above
College Professor salary by city
Salary by role in Philadelphia
What you should know
Here is what the College Professor market actually looks like in Philadelphia. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The city's pharmaceutical corridor is among the strongest in the country. Tech growth has accelerated, particularly in health tech and enterprise software, offering salaries that stretch further than in nearby New York. Discipline, institution type, and tenure status create enormous pay variance. Business, engineering, and computer science professors earn 30 to 60% more than humanities professors. R1 research universities pay significantly more than community colleges or teaching-focused institutions.
Assistant Professors start at $66,000 to $85,000 depending on field. Associate Professors with tenure earn $82,000 to $110,000. Full Professors command $100,000 to $150,000, while Endowed Chairs and Distinguished Professors at elite universities exceed $200,000. In Philadelphia, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Tenure-track professors receive sabbatical leave, research funding, and housing allowances at some institutions. Summer research stipends add $10,000 to $25,000. Consulting and speaking engagements can add $10,000 to $50,000 annually for well-known scholars. And on the tax side: pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax, but Philadelphia adds a 3.75% city wage tax for residents. This combined local burden is worth factoring into salary negotiations. When someone quotes you $98,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income. The range for College Professors in Philadelphia runs from $73,000 to $136,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Operations Manager in Philadelphia earns $99,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Philadelphia is Principal Quantitative Researcher at $397,000
Common questions.
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