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Associate Professor Jobs in Springfield, MO (NOW HIRING)

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Associate Professor information

See Springfield, MO salary details

$39.6K

$93.2K

$129.6K

How much do associate professor jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate professor in Springfield, MO is $93,174.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,900.00 and $114,600.00 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 Springfield, MO? The most popular types of Professor jobs in Springfield, MO are:
What are popular job titles related to Associate Professor jobs in Springfield, MO? For Associate Professor jobs in Springfield, MO, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities near Springfield, MO are hiring for Associate Professor jobs? Cities near Springfield, MO with the most Associate Professor job openings:
Associate Professor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Professor job openings in Springfield, MO as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 6% Full Time, 86% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,174 per year, or $44.8 per hour.
Associate Professor, Animal Science - 9 month appointment

Associate Professor, Animal Science - 9 month appointment

Missouri State University

Springfield, MO • On-site

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago

Missouri State University rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 23 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

464th of 544 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Posting Details
Position Information
Position Title
Associate Professor, Animal Science - 9 month appointment
Work Location
Springfield Campus
Department
School of Agricultural Science and Conservation
HR Home Department
021016 SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION
Pay Grade
Unclassified
Sponsorship Information
Applicants must be currently authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States on a full-time basis. This position may not be eligible for work visa sponsorship.
Position only available to current, regular, full-time Missouri State University employees?
No, Position is available to all applicants.
Faculty Appointment Type
Tenure Track
Term (if applicable)
9 month
Begin Date of Appointment
01/04/2027
Exempt/Non-Exempt
Exempt
General Function
The Associate Professor is a member of the ranked faculty with a high academic rank who has demonstrated a sustained record of effectiveness in teaching, research including scholarly publications, and service appropriate to the discipline. The Associate Professor's teaching responsibilities are assigned by the academic department head which may include serving as an academic advisor. The Associate Professor engages in scholarly activities beyond those associated with teaching and is expected to demonstrate professional productivity in research, based upon the availability of resources and consistent with the mission of the University.
Description of Primary Duties
Teach undergraduate courses in beef production and other areas of animal science dependent upon training, experience and departmental needs. The candidate should possess the ability and the desire to develop a comprehensive teaching and research program in applied beef cattle production. Successful candidate must develop a strong working relationship with the Missouri beef industry. Scholarly activity resulting in peer reviewed publications and presentations and supervision of master's level graduate students are required for tenure. Additional duties include academic advisement of undergraduate students, service on departmental and university committees, and advisement of student organizations. The ability to work in a multidisciplinary College of Agriculture is expected.
Minimum Acceptable Qualifications
The minimum acceptable qualifications for the position of Associate Professor are prescribed in the Faculty Handbook. Positions associated with this position classification may be located in facilities requiring the position to be designated "sensitive" as defined by University policy. Positions associated with this position classification may include job duties, responsibilities, or activities that are subject to export control regulations.
Additional Qualifications
PhD in Animal Science, demonstration of active involvement in the Beef industry and cow-calf production in a non-academic setting. Experience in teaching.
Link to Job Description
http://www.missouristate.edu/human/jobdescriptions/21446.htm
Open Date
05/12/2026
Close Date (If Close Date is blank then the posting is considered open until filled)
Special Instructions to Applicants
First date of consideration will be June 22, 2026. Review of applications will continue until filled.
This opening has been posted at the rank of Assistant Professor and Associate Professor; however, only one hire will be made. To be considered for both tenure track positions you must submit your application materials to each posting. To view the Assistant Professor posting and apply, click here:
https://jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/86290
Applicants that can start August 1, 2026 or January 4, 2027 will be given equal consideration.
Questions regarding this position can be directed to the School Director, Dr. Lacy Sukovaty (LacySukovaty@MissouriState.edu).
Please attach an unofficial transcript to your application. Please note that documents that contain passwords, digital signatures, and other artifacts such as watermarks may not convert properly. If your document contains any of these items, please print and scan the document, then upload the scanned version to your application. Official transcripts required at time of hire.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Non-Discrimination Statement
Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict non-discrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. In accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including ancestry, or any other subcategory of national origin recognized by applicable law), religion, sex (including marital status, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other subcategory of sex recognized by applicable law), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. Sex discrimination encompasses sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, and is strictly prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
This policy shall not be interpreted in a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity employer. Inquiries concerning the complaint/grievance procedure related to discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, or compliance with federal and state laws and guidelines, should be addressed to the Director, Office for Institutional Compliance, Carrington Hall 205, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65897, Compliance@MissouriState.edu, 417-836-4252.
Background Check Statement
Employment will require a criminal background check at University expense.
Posting Detail
Posting Number
20260030FTF
Quicklink for Posting
https://jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/86289

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