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Associate Professor information

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$42.9K

$101.1K

$140.6K

How much do associate professor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate professor in California is $101,090.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,000.00 and $124,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate professor?

An associate professor teaches at a college or university campus and ranks below a full professor. As an associate professor, you still perform the primary job duties of a full professor, such as interacting with students, grading classroom assignments, assisting students with study techniques, and developing lesson plans. You may also spend part of your career working on research projects and writing articles for academic journals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate professor, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Professor, you need advanced subject matter expertise, a doctoral degree in your field, and a record of research and scholarly publication. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), academic databases, and research software is typically required. Strong communication, mentorship, and organizational skills help foster student engagement and productive collegial relationships. These competencies are essential for effective teaching, impactful research, and meaningful contributions to academic communities.

What are some common challenges faced by associate professors when balancing research, teaching, and service responsibilities?

Associate Professors often juggle multiple responsibilities, including conducting research, teaching courses, mentoring students, and participating in departmental or university service. Balancing these can be challenging, especially when research expectations remain high while teaching loads and committee work increase after promotion. Successful Associate Professors typically develop strong time-management skills, collaborate with colleagues to share best practices, and seek mentorship or support from their academic community. Proactive planning and clear communication with department leadership can also help manage these competing demands.

What is the difference between Associate Professor vs Assistant Professor?

AspectAssociate ProfessorAssistant Professor
Required CredentialsDoctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent), significant research and teaching experienceDoctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent), typically early in academic career
Work EnvironmentUniversity faculty, involved in teaching, research, and serviceUniversity faculty, primarily focused on teaching and beginning research
Employer & Industry UsageHigher education institutions, research universitiesHigher education institutions, research universities

In summary, an Associate Professor is a more senior academic role with extensive research and teaching experience, while an Assistant Professor is an entry-level faculty position focused on developing research and teaching skills.

Do you need a PhD to be an associate professor?

Typically, an associate professor position requires a doctoral degree, such as a PhD, along with significant research, teaching experience, and a strong publication record. While requirements can vary by institution and field, having a PhD is generally essential for this academic rank.
More about Associate Professor jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Professor jobs in California?

The most popular types of Professor jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Associate Professor jobs in California?

For Associate Professor jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Associate Professor jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Associate Professor jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Associate Professor jobs?

Cities in California with the most Associate Professor job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Associate Professor jobs in CA?

For Associate Professor jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Associate Professor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Professor job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,090 per year, or $48.6 per hour.

Associate Professor or Full Professor, Poetry

Stanford, CA • On-site

Stanford Energy
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Stanford Energyexternal

$128K - $159K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 hours ago

Stanford University rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 25 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Associate Professor or Full Professor, Poetry

Apply now Work type: University Tenure Line
Location: Stanford University
Categories: School of Humanities & Sciences

Department of English/Creative Writing Program, Associate Professor or Full Professor, Poetry 

The Department of English and the Creative Writing Program at Stanford University seek applicants for a senior appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor specializing in Poetry. Candidates are expected to have a record of distinguished publication, including two published books of original poetry. All applicants should hold an MFA or its equivalent.

Candidates should have a strong commitment to teaching and be prepared to take an active part in Stanford's vibrant academic and creative writing communities. This position requires teaching courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels within both the English Department and the Creative Writing Program. A particular emphasis of the position is the mentoring and advising of students at all levels.  The term of appointment is expected to begin September 1, 2027. 


Candidates should submit the following:

  a cover letter.

  a curriculum vitae with a full list of publications including any publications in genres other than poetry.

  a teaching statement. This should include examples of how the candidate has applied their approach in the classroom. 

  contact information for three references. 

Further materials may be requested later.


All application materials must be submitted online.

For full consideration, materials must be received by September 15, 2026 at 11:55pm PST. 

The salary range for this position for the academic year 2026-2027 is: 

Associate Professor: $128,992 - $159,907
Professor: $149,247 - $255,852

Stanford University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position upon hire. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, and internal equity.

Inquiries may be directed to Christina Ablaza, Administrative Director of Creative Writing, cablaza@stanford.edu. Further information about Stanford's Department of English and Creative Writing Program can be found at https://english.stanford.edu and https://creativewriting.stanford.edu/.

Review of applications will begin on September 16, 2026.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Stanford welcomes applications from all who would bring additional dimensions to the University's research, teaching, and clinical missions. 

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact disability.access@stanford.edu.

Advertised: 15 Jul 2026 3:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: 15 Sep 2026 11:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time

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