Distinguished Professor Salary in the United States

How much does a Distinguished Professor make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Distinguished Professor in the United States is $227,917 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $110.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $255,746
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $208,561 to $242,484
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $190,938
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View as table View as graph 25% $208,561 10% $190,938 90% $255,746 75% $242,484 $227,917 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Distinguished Professor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $242,484 $20,207 $4,663 $117
Average $227,917 $18,993 $4,383 $110
25th Percentile $208,561 $17,380 $4,011 $100
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Key Factors That Influence Distinguished Professor Salaries

A Distinguished Professor'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 Distinguished Professor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Distinguished Professor'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $105,636
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $127,201
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $169,803
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $190,739
  • Expert (over 8 years): $231,949
Levels Salary
Benefits ... Level Distinguished Professor$105,636
Benefits ... Level Distinguished Professor$127,201
Benefits ... Level Distinguished Professor$169,803
Benefits ... Level Distinguished Professor$190,739
Distingui... Level Distinguished Professor$231,949
$105,636 0 yr
$127,201 < 2 yrs
$169,803 2-4 yrs
$190,739 5-8 yrs
$231,949 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Distinguished Professors

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: $287,472
  • San Francisco: $284,324
  • Oakland: $278,332

What Skills Can Increase a Distinguished Professor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 20% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Benefit Administration (Mentioned in 20% Job Postings): Benefits administration is the process of assembling and managing the benefits an organization provides to employees.
  • Operations Support (Mentioned in 20% Job Postings): A process invoices; approve purchase orders and negotiate with vendors; coordinate deliveries of supplies; and manage calendars.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 20%
Benefit Administration 20%
Operations Support 20%
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 Distinguished Professor's salary.
  • Benefit Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Customer Service: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Benefit Administration
$250,709
10%
Customer Service
$237,034
4%
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Distinguished Professor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Distinguished Professor roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Distinguished Professor positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Distinguished Professor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Distinguished Professor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$341,876$164.050%

How Education impacts a Distinguished Professor's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Distinguished Professor with a Bachelor's Degree is between $211,864 and $225,119).

Distinguished Professor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Distinguished Professor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 11.8%
High School 11.8%
Associates 5.9%
Bachelors 41.2%
Masters 35.3%
Doctorate 5.9%
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Distinguished Professor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Distinguished Professor'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Distinguished Professor

Salaries for a Distinguished Professor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $209,367 in 2023 to around $210,831 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Distinguished Professor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Distinguished Professor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$209,367
2024
$211,846
2025
$210,831
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $209,367
2024 $211,846
2025 $210,831
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Distinguished Professor

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Distinguished Professor

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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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