Archivists
Median wage · national
$64,550
Range: $51K – $83K
Employed
8K
Openings/yr
1K
Typically: master's degree
HUMANITIES
Cultural Studies Professors
Cultural Studies Professors earn $85,020 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $65,660 and $110,710. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Cultural Studies Professors
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a cultural studies professors: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Anthropology and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
- Median Wage
- $85,020
- Employed Nationally
- 11K
- Openings / Year
- 1,000
- Entry Education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Adjunct Professor
African Studies Professor
American Studies Professor
Asian Studies Professor
Assistant Professor
How Much Do Cultural Studies Professors Make?
Most cultural studies professors take home around $85,020 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $65,660 and $110,710, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$85,020
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$66K–$111K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$65,660
Entry-level
$85,020
Median
$110,710
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $98,330, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Cultural Studies Professors Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Instructing
Active Listening
Writing
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
Where Do Cultural Studies Professors Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Cultural Studies Professors?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +2.7%, meaning it is growing slowly, a little behind the average job. Around 1,000 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +2.7%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Slower than average.
1,000
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
11K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Cultural Studies Professors professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $85,020 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 1,520 | $101,800 | +19.7% |
| 2 | Texas | 830 | $72,250 | -15.0% |
| 3 | California | 770 | $105,220 | +23.8% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 610 | $100,470 | +18.2% |
| 5 | North Carolina | 590 | $66,470 | -21.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a doctoral or professional degree. The 10 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Religion/Religious Studies program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthropology | 10,899 | $46,676 | 589 |
| 2 | Religion/Religious Studies | 9,587 | $41,390 | 784 |
| 3 | Ethnic Studies | 9,022 | $51,710 | 681 |
| 4 | Area Studies | 6,170 | $56,625 | 513 |
| 5 | Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies | 584 | $42,907 | 125 |
| 6 | Historic Preservation and Conservation | 423 | $49,728 | 80 |
| 7 | Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis | 375 | $40,892 | 57 |
| 8 | Classical and Ancient Studies | 290 | $50,477 | 77 |
| 9 | Area & Ethnic Studies, Other | 62 | — | 9 |
| 10 | Digital Humanities and Textual Studies | 54 | — | 18 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Cultural Studies Professors
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 3 | Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel Monroe, NY | 93 | $4,156 | $31,853 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Cultural Studies Professors, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Cultural Studies Professors pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Cultural Studies Professors Pros & Cons
The data on Cultural Studies Professors shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $85,020 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $110,710 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Slow job growth At +2.7% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
- High education requirement Most employers require a doctoral or professional degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Cultural Studies Professors Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Cultural Studies Professors professionals earn?
Around $85,020 a year for the typical worker, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $65,660 and $110,710. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Cultural Studies Professors a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $85,020 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Research salary outcomes at specific programs, not just the national median, before committing to a graduate path.
How long does it take to work as Cultural Studies Professors?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A doctoral or professional degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Anthropology are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $85,020 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a doctoral or professional degree worth it to become a Cultural Studies Professors?
For in-state public programs, generally yes. The margin tightens significantly at private schools with heavy debt loads. A $85,020 median may take 15 to 20 years to recover at high-cost programs. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Cultural Studies Professors?
Employment is projected to change by +2.7% through 2035, slower than average compared with other occupations. Around 1,000 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 11K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Cultural Studies Professors professionals need?
Mainly Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Instructing, Active Listening, and Writing. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
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