Based on data from the 2019-20 academic year for private universities, Columbia University had the highest-paid full professors, with an average salary of $268,400.
Top Private Universities for Professor Salaries (2019-20)
Professor compensation can vary significantly between institutions, largely influenced by factors such as university endowment, research funding, and institutional prestige. The following table highlights the top private universities with the highest average salaries for full professors during the 2019-20 academic year:
| Rank | University | Average Full Professor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University | $268,400 |
| 2 | Stanford University | $261,900 |
| 3 | Princeton University | $255,000 |
| 4 | Harvard University | $253,900 |
| 5 | University of Chicago | $246,100 |
These figures reflect the average earnings for full professors at these elite private institutions. It's important to note that these salaries are specific to the 2019-20 academic year and primarily represent private universities. Broader trends at the time indicated that professor pay across the board had remained relatively flat.
