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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Professor in North Carolina is $85,767 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.
However, an Associate Professor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Associate Professor Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $93,644 | $7,804 | $1,801 | $45 |
| Average | $85,767 | $7,147 | $1,649 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,909 | $6,742 | $1,556 | $39 |
East Carolina University - Greenville, NC
East Carolina University - Greenville, NC
University of North Carolina Charlotte - Charlotte, NC
ECU Health Medical Center - Greenville, NC
An Associate 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Associate 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Contracts... Level Associate Professor | $60,980 |
| Contracts... Level Associate Professor | $75,285 |
| Associate... Level Associate Professor | $85,188 |
| Contracts... Level Associate Professor | $102,711 |
| Contracts... Level Associate Professor | $146,329 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Associate Professors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Associate Professor roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Business Services and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 12% above the average. In contrast, Associate Professor positions in Energy & Utilities or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Associate Professor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Services | $96,059 | $46.0 | 12% |
| Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit | $90,055 | $43.0 | 5% |
Understanding how an Associate 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $93,644 | $7,804 | $1,801 | $45 |
| Average | $85,767 | $7,147 | $1,649 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,909 | $6,742 | $1,556 | $39 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Associate Professor job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
East Carolina University | Greenville, NC
Posting DetailsPosition InformationJob TitleAssistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate ProfessorPosition Numb... more
7 Days Ago
North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State Unive
Greensboro, NC
North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State Unive | Greensboro, NC
Description:The developing Physician Assistant (PA) Program at North Carolina A&T State University is seeking an Associate Director. This is a 12-month, op... more
7 Days Ago
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC
North Carolina A&T State University | Greensboro, NC
Posting DetailsClassification InformationClassification TypeEHRAPosition OverviewPrimary Purpose of PositionThe developing Physician Assistant (PA) Program... more
7 Days Ago
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC
North Carolina A&T State University | Greensboro, NC
Posting DetailsClassification InformationClassification TypeEHRAPosition OverviewPrimary Purpose of PositionThe developing Physician Assistant (PA) Program... more
7 Days Ago
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
University of North Carolina Charlotte | Charlotte, NC
Assistant or Associate ProfessorPlease see Special Instructions for more details.ABD candidates will be considered if they provide evidence of degree compl... more
7 Days Ago
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC
Position Number:004666, 001715Department:Coll of Computing&Informatics (Col)Employment Type:Permanent - Full-timeMonths Per Year:9Essential Duties and Resp... more
7 Days Ago
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