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Academic Professional Salary in the United States

How much does an Academic Professional make in the United States? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Academic Professional in the United States is $61,280 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, an Academic Professional's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,921
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,893 to $64,756
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $50,988
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Academic Professional Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Academic Professional Salaries

An Academic Professional's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Academic Professional Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Academic Professional's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,555
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,901
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $91,322
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $116,343
  • Expert (over 8 years): $78,312
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Academic Professional less than 1 year $60,555
Recruiter II 1-2 years $75,901
Recruiter III 2-4 years $91,322
Recruiter IV 5-8 years $116,343
Recruiting Supervisor over 8 years $78,312

How Do Academic Professional Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Academic Professionals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $67,849.
  • California: $67,591.
  • Massachusetts: $66,690.

Top Paying Cities for Academic Professional

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $77,292
  • San Francisco: $76,446
  • Oakland: $74,835

Academic Professional Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Academic Professional roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Academic Professional positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Academic Professional as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Academic Professional

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet $70,471 $34.0 15%
Pharmaceuticals $67,407 $32.0 10%
Software & Networking $67,407 $32.0 10%
Energy & Utilities $66,182 $32.0 8%
Insurance $64,956 $31.0 6%

How Education impacts an Academic Professional's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Academic Professional professionals enter the field with a Associate's degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Academic Professional with a Associate's is between $58,233 and $61,988.

Academic Professional Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Academic Professional
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 1.1%
High School 10.9%
Associate's Degree 7.2%
Bachelor's Degree 66.1%
Master's Degree or MBA 14.1%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 0.5%
View as Graph

Academic Professional Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Academic Professional's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$55,893
Average $61,280/year
$64,756
$4,658
Average $5,107/month
$5,396
$1,075
Average $1,178/week
$1,245
$27
Average $29/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,756 $5,396 $1,245 $31
Average $61,280 $5,107 $1,178 $29
25th Percentile $55,893 $4,658 $1,075 $27

Most common benefits for Academic Professional

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Academic Professional

Here are companies hiring for Academic Professional and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Academic Professional Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Academic Professional job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Ohio | Columbus, OH

    Radiology

    Ohio | Columbus, OH

    100% Remote - Ohio Neuro Teleradiology JobClinical Role. Do you know someone that might be a good fit for this position. Please ask about our generous refe... more

    10 Days Ago

  • C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    18 Days Ago

  • OhioHealth | Columbus, OH

    Ultrasonographer

    OhioHealth | Columbus, OH

    We are more than a health system. We are a belief system. We believe wellness and sickness are both part of a lifelong partnership, and that everyone could... more

    21 Days Ago

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FAQ about Academic Professional

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Academic Professional?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Academic Professional roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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