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.
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.
Also known as:
Cultural Studies Professors earn $85,020 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $65,660 and $110,710. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Above the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
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.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Cultural Studies Professors roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
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.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects +2.4% employment change for Cultural Studies Professors through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 1,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Slower than average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
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 | 1,740 | $97,140 | +14.3% |
| 2 | California | 1,030 | $113,070 | +33.0% |
| 3 | Texas | 730 | $77,650 | -8.7% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 610 | $99,630 | +17.2% |
| 5 | North Carolina | 610 | $67,170 | -21.0% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Cultural Studies Professors positions require a doctoral or professional degree to qualify. The 10 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
| # | 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 |
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 |
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.
See if the degree that leads to Cultural Studies Professors pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
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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.
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