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$37.8K

$89K

$123.8K

How much do associate professor jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate professor in Kentucky is $88,964.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,600.00 and $109,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

What is the job of an associate professor?

An associate professor is a faculty member at a college or university who has typically achieved tenure and has responsibilities that include teaching courses, conducting research, publishing scholarly work, and participating in departmental and institutional service. They often supervise students and may take on administrative roles within their department.

How to get a job as an associate professor?

To become an associate professor, candidates typically need a doctoral degree in their field, a strong record of research and publications, and teaching experience. The process involves applying for open positions, undergoing interviews, and often achieving tenure or a similar permanent appointment within an academic institution.

What are Associate Professors?

Associate Professors are mid-level faculty members at colleges and universities who have typically earned tenure and demonstrated significant achievements in teaching, research, and service. They rank above Assistant Professors but below full Professors. Associate Professors are responsible for teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, conducting research, publishing scholarly work, and contributing to their academic department and institution. Promotion to this rank usually requires several years of experience and a proven record of academic excellence.

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 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 is the lowest rank of a professor?

The lowest academic rank of a professor is typically Assistant Professor. This is an entry-level faculty position requiring a doctoral degree and often involves teaching, research, and service responsibilities before promotion to higher ranks like Associate Professor and Full Professor.

What is the salary of an associate professor in the US?

The average salary of an associate professor in the US typically ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on the institution, location, and field of expertise. Factors such as experience, research output, and additional responsibilities can influence compensation.
More about Associate Professor jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Professor jobs in Kentucky? The most popular types of Professor jobs in Kentucky are:
What are popular job titles related to Associate Professor jobs in Kentucky? For Associate Professor jobs in Kentucky, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Associate Professor jobs in Kentucky look for? The top searched job categories for Associate Professor jobs in Kentucky are:
What cities in Kentucky are hiring for Associate Professor jobs? Cities in Kentucky with the most Associate Professor job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Associate Professor jobs in KY? For Associate Professor jobs in KY, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Associate Professor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Professor job openings in Kentucky as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 67% Full Time, 29% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,964 per year, or $42.8 per hour.
Assistant or Associate Professor, College of Nursing

Assistant or Associate Professor, College of Nursing

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 21 hours ago

University Of Kentucky rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 132 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

275th of 555 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Posting Details
Posting Details
Job Title
Assistant or Associate Professor, College of Nursing
Requisition Number
FE04700
Working Title
Assistant or Associate Professor (open rank)
Department Name
7E100:NURSING INSTRUCTION
Work Location
Lexington, KY
Type of Position
Faculty
Position Time Status
Full-Time
Tenure Track Status
Tenure Track
Required Education
A PhD in nursing is preferred or a PhD in an associated field with a master's degree in nursing.
Required Related Experience
A PhD in nursing is preferred or a PhD in an associated field with a master's degree in nursing and hold an active Kentucky license as a registered nurse. The candidate should have a record of collaborative extramurally funded research and scholarship, experience as an educator and a track record of service to the nursing profession commensurate with appointment as an assistant or associate professor at the College of Nursing.
Required License/Registration/Certification
Active Kentucky license as a registered nurse, or the eligibility to obtain an active Kentucky license.
Job Summary
The College of Nursing at the University of Kentucky invites exceptional candidates to apply for a full-time, 12-month Regular Title Series, tenure-eligible position, open rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. This position is an on-site position, and based in Lexington, KY. We seek candidates who use innovative approaches to address important and challenging problems in all aspects of nursing science. Research start-up funds and start date are negotiable for this Regular Title Series faculty position.
The successful candidate will demonstrate evidence of grantsmanship and productivity in health related research, a commitment to education, and collaborative research and scholarship. The successful candidate may teach at the graduate and/or undergraduate levels; actively participate in service to the university and the profession; and promote community among faculty,staff, trainees, and students. The prevailing candidate is expected to have an established research career, ambitious vision, and collegial style. The College of Nursing is committed to providing world-class education and conducting novel research with University of Kentucky students and community partners. Our faculty include some of the brightest and most innovative scholars in the discipline. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to engage with our nationally and internationally recognized researchers at the College of Nursing and with multidisciplinary teams through our dynamic centers at the University of Kentucky. We invite you to learn more about the College of Nursing at https://nursing.uky.edu/ and about the University of Kentucky Research Centers at https://research.uky.edu/centers-institutes.
* For specific request #1, please submit recommendation letters as one PDF*
Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with comprehensive rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work life integration. The university generously contributes to employees' retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.
Preferred Education/Experience
• A PhD in nursing is preferred or a PhD in an associated field with a master's degree in nursing. A record of collaborative extramurally funded research and scholarship, experience as an educator and a track record of service to the nursing profession commensurate with appointment as an assistant or associate professor at the College of Nursing.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Verbal and written communication skills, collaboration, and professional development
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No
Preferred Education/Experience
A PhD in nursing is preferred or a PhD in an associated field with a master's degree in nursing and hold an active Kentucky license as a registered nurse. The candidate should have a record of collaborative extramurally funded research and scholarship, experience as an educator and a track record of service to the nursing profession commensurate with appointment as an assistant or associate professor at the College of Nursing
Deadline to Apply
Open Until Filled
Yes
Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

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About University of Kentucky

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The University of Kentucky (UK), the state's flagship university, was founded in 1865 and its beautiful, sprawling campus, nestled in downtown Lexington, now covers over 900 acres and is home to more than 30,000 students and approximately 13,500 employees. The trees and beautifully manicured greenspaces are a source of pride for the university and combine to create an impressive oasis amidst the busy cityscape that surrounds it.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Lexington, KY, US

Year founded

1865

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