The Salary of an English Professor at a Community College
The road to higher education can come in many forms, including vocational colleges, four-year universities and community colleges. Community colleges offer post-secondary education at a more affordable cost. English professors at these colleges are paid at the lower end of the pay scale for post-secondary teachers in comparison to public and private four-year universities. These salaries, vary, however, based on the location of the community college and the professor's experience.
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National Average
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average salary for English professors at four year universities is $67,140 per year. This increases at junior colleges to an average salary of $69,740 for English professors. The pay scale is slightly lower at business schools, where the average salary decreases to $65,180. The BLS then lists the salary at other schools and instruction at a lower average of $53,190. Technical and trade schools pay their English professors the lowest national average at $52,070.
By Geographical Area
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Salaries for English professors at community colleges also vary based on geographical locations of the schools. The BLS shows that schools on the coasts tend to pay the highest salaries. California pays their English professors the highest wages at an annual mean wage of $92,650. New York ranks a close second with an annual mean wage salary of $92,170. The lowest mean annual wage salaries fall in states such as Montana, Kansas and Arkansas with wages between $47,060 and $50,570.
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The Experience Factor
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Another factor in the salary for English professors at community colleges is their level of experience. Community colleges only require individuals to have a master's degree in their specialty field along with a certain number of graduate level semester hours to teach. However, individuals with Ph.D. degrees are highly sought after at the community college level and are paid a higher salary than individuals with only a master's degree.
Job Outlook
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The job outlook for English professors at community colleges should increase in the next few years due to the increase in students applying for entrance to these colleges. The BLS estimates a 15 percent growth for post-secondary teachers between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than average. When the economy is down, students and unemployed workers turn to community colleges for a more affordable education or retraining. The increase in student populations at community colleges should increase the number of professors needed.
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References
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