Professor - Sociology Salary in the United States

How much does a Professor - Sociology make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Professor - Sociology in the United States is $106,638 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

However, a Professor - Sociology's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $137,476
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $93,407 to $122,780
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,361

Key Factors That Influence Professor - Sociology Salaries

A Professor - Sociology's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Professor - Sociology Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Professor - Sociology's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Instructor - Sociology (0-0 years): $56,842
  • Asst. Professor - Sociology (0-0 years): $68,651
  • Assoc. Professor - Sociology (0-0 years): $82,149
  • Professor - Sociology (0-0 years): $106,638
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Instructor - Sociology0-0 years$56,842
Asst. Professor - Sociology0-0 years$68,651
Assoc. Professor - Sociology0-0 years$82,149
Professor - Sociology0-0 years$106,638

Top Paying Cities for Professor - Sociologies

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $134,503
  • San Francisco: $133,030
  • Oakland: $130,226

What Skills Can Increase a Professor - Sociology's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.5% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Academic Advising (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Academic advising is, according to the National Academic Advising Association, "a series of intentional interactions with a curriculum, a pedagogy, and a set of student learning outcomes. Academic advising synthesizes and contextualizes students' educational experiences within the frameworks of their aspirations, abilities and lives to extend learning beyond campus boundaries and timeframes."
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.5%
Academic Advising 2.08%
Computer Science 2.08%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Professor - Sociology's salary.

  • Academic Advising: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Quality Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Academic Advising $135,430
27%
Quality Improvement $132,231
24%
Computer Science $123,700
16%

Professor - Sociology Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Professor - Sociology salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $110,094. While startup companies pay approximate $94,016.

Professor - Sociology Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $94,016
Growth Stage 51~500 $99,214
Established 501~5000 $106,555
Enterprise 5000+ $110,094

Professor - Sociology Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Professor - Sociology roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 0% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 0% above the average. Conversely, Professor - Sociology positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Professor - Sociology as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Professor - Sociology

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg

How Education impacts a Professor - Sociology's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Professor - Sociology enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Professor - Sociology with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Professor - Sociology Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Professor - Sociology
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 11.8%
High School 88.2%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 11.8%
Doctorate 88.2%

Professor - Sociology Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Professor - Sociology's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$93,407
Average $106,638/year
$122,780
$7,784
Average $8,887/month
$10,232
$1,796
Average $2,051/week
$2,361
$45
Average $51/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $122,780 $10,232 $2,361 $59
Average $106,638 $8,887 $2,051 $51
25th Percentile $93,407 $7,784 $1,796 $45

Most common benefits for Professor - Sociology

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Professor - Sociology

Here are companies hiring for Professor - Sociology and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Professor - Sociology

1. Where can a Professor - Sociology earn the most?

A Professor - Sociology's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Professor - Sociology earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Professor - Sociology is $134,503.

2. What is the highest pay for Professor - Sociology?

The highest pay for Professor - Sociology is $137,476.

3. What is the lowest pay for Professor - Sociology?

The lowest pay for Professor - Sociology is $81,361.

4. What are the responsibilities of Professor - Sociology?

Teaches courses in the discipline area of sociology. Develops and designs curriculum plans to foster student learning, stimulate class discussions, and ensures student engagement. Provides tutoring and academic counseling to students, maintains classes related records, and assesses student coursework. Collaborates and supports colleagues regarding research interests and co-curricular activities. Typically reports to a department head. Requires a PhD or terminal degree appropriate to the field. Has considerable experience and is qualified to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels and initiates research and case studies in field of interest and may publish findings in trade journals or textbooks. Provides intellectual leadership and has made significant contributions to the field. May offer independent study opportunities and mentoring to students. Typically this individual is a leader in the field and has been published.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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