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Associate Professor Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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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 Aug 18, 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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,090 per year, or $48.6 per hour.

Assistant/Associate Professor of Surgery - Adult Lung Transplant Surgeon

UCSF

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$154K - $240K/yr

Other

Re-posted 13 days ago

University Of California San Francisco rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

229th of 618 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Assistant/Associate Professor of Surgery – Adult Lung Transplant Surgeon

The Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, is seeking a full-time academic cardiothoracic surgeon at the Assistant or Associate Professor level to join its nationally recognized Lung Transplantation program. The ideal candidate will be fellowship-trained in lung transplantation, with experience with cannulation and management of both VA and VV ECMO is strongly preferred. Additional training in robotic surgery and foregut procedures would be of additional benefit. Applicants must be board certified or board eligible in cardiothoracic surgery at the time of hire, with substantial experience in lung transplantation. Applicants' materials must list eligible, and/or pending qualifications upon submission.

Depending on the candidate's background and interests, there may also be opportunities to participate in general cardiac or thoracic surgery, with the distribution of time negotiable. The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate with other Departments and hospital leadership to advance integrated, multidisciplinary care and help assess resources necessary for program growth and success. Effective communication and teamwork skills are essential. Research productivity is expected and a proven track record in research and peer-reviewed publications is preferred.

Candidates must have recognized skills in the education of surgery residents and medical students and will be expected to be active participants in the Department's and Division's residency and fellowship training programs, as well as to the education of medical students.

The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 5. The minimum base salary range for this position is $154,700 - $240,500. This position includes membership in the health sciences compensation plan which provides for eligibility for additional compensation.

UC San Francisco seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, and community services that have prepared them to contribute to our commitment to excellence.

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