To become a professor at a 4-year college or university in the US, you'll typically need a Ph.D. or other doctorate in your field, which means a dissertation of original research you defend in front of experts. Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree, and in fields such as health, art and law, hands-on work experience often counts as much as the degree.
Getting hired is only the first step. Many professors then work through a tenure track of up to 7 years before earning a permanent post.
Figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook for postsecondary teachers, read on 26 October 2026.
Professors in numbers
| Measure | BLS figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $85,330 a year |
| Lowest 10 in every 100 earned less than | $49,540 |
| Highest 10 in every 100 earned more than | $203,580 |
| Jobs in 2025 | 1,378,200 |
| Projected growth 2025 to 2035 | 7%, much faster than average |
| Openings each year | About 103,300 on average |
Those pay figures are as of October 2026. BLS counts full-time and part-time postsecondary teachers together.
How to become a professor, step by step
- Earn a bachelor's degree in the subject you want to teach.
- Consider a master's. It's enough for some community college roles and part-time posts, and it can be a step toward a doctorate.
- Complete a Ph.D. Doctoral programs usually take several years. You'll specialize in a subfield, such as organic chemistry or European history, and write and defend a dissertation.
- Teach while you study. Many doctoral students work as graduate teaching assistants, which builds the teaching experience institutions look for.
- Do a post-doc if your field expects it. In biology, physics and chemistry, BLS says a post-doc usually means 2 to 3 years as a research associate, often at a university.
- Apply for faculty posts, then work toward tenure.
The tenure track is a second career ladder
This is the part that surprises people. BLS says professors with a doctorate often seek tenure, a guarantee that a professor can't be fired without just cause, and attaining it may take up to 7 years. You move through the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor and professor, and the decision rests on your research, your contribution to the institution and your teaching.
At 4-year research universities, that means publishing. Tenured professors must document their analyses or critical reviews and publish their findings, and they're also expected to serve on committees. Community college roles are more likely to focus on teaching.
What the job involves
Professors teach courses, set and grade assignments, advise students and keep up with developments in their field. Some teach large classes of several hundred students, often with help from graduate teaching assistants, while others teach smaller classes of about 40 to 50 students, seminars with a few students, or laboratories. At research universities, a big share of the week goes on original research and writing. Most classes run during the day, though some are held at night or at weekends.
The biggest groups of postsecondary teachers are in health specialties, with 278,400 jobs, then art, drama and music, with 116,900, and business, with 103,600. Nursing instructors are close behind at 96,100.
Adjuncts and part-time teaching
Not every college teacher is on the tenure track. Part-time professors, often called adjunct professors, usually spend most of their time teaching. Part-time teachers may work at several colleges, and some hold a full-time job in their field alongside a part-time teaching post. It can be a way in, or a way to teach without leaving your industry.
Building a teaching record before you apply
Institutions may prefer candidates with teaching or other work experience, so don't leave it until you've finished your doctorate. Graduate teaching assistant posts are the usual first step, and leading tutorials, labs or a full course of your own gives you something concrete to show a hiring panel. In applied fields, work experience can matter as much: BLS says health, art, law and education faculty often gain it by working in an occupation related to their subject before or alongside teaching.
Pay depends heavily on subject
| Subject taught | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Law | $128,500 |
| Economics | $123,920 |
| Engineering | $109,270 |
| Health specialties | $107,310 |
| Physics | $100,310 |
| Business | $99,080 |
| Computer science | $96,980 |
| Chemistry | $93,250 |
| History | $83,820 |
Those medians are as of October 2026. BLS also says pay tends to be higher at colleges, universities and professional schools than at community colleges.
Moving from industry into teaching
If you've built a career outside academia, your experience may be your biggest asset, especially in health, art, law and education. Postsecondary teachers who prepare students for a licensed occupation may need the same credential, such as a nursing license. Our guide on translating academic skills into business covers the move in the other direction, and these transcription tools for academics can speed up research interviews.
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My verdict
Becoming a professor is a long apprenticeship: a doctorate for most university posts, often a post-doc, then up to 7 years on the tenure track. Choose your field with your eyes open, because pay ranges widely by subject. If a full academic career doesn't appeal, community college teaching or an adjunct role alongside your industry job are realistic ways to get in front of a class.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a professor?
A bachelor's degree, then a doctorate that usually takes several years, sometimes a 2 to 3 year post-doc, and up to 7 years on the tenure track.
Do you need a Ph.D. to be a professor?
For most 4-year colleges and universities, yes. Community colleges and some part-time posts may hire people with a master's degree.
How much do professors make?
BLS reports a median of $85,330 a year for postsecondary teachers in May 2025. Law teachers had the highest median listed, at $128,500.
What is tenure?
A guarantee that a professor can't be fired without just cause. BLS says attaining tenure may take up to 7 years.
What is an adjunct professor?
A part-time professor who usually spends most of their time teaching, sometimes at several colleges or alongside another job.
Can you teach college without a doctorate?
Yes, in some cases. Community colleges may hire those with a master's degree, and fields such as art, law and health value work experience.
Is professor a growing job?
BLS projects 7% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 103,300 openings a year.
What is a post-doc?
A research job after a doctorate, usually 2 to 3 years as a research associate, common in biology, physics and chemistry.
