[weaksauce]

according to the chronicle the average assistant professor salary is ~$80k. I doubt that a native american studies assistant professor will get that much but I have been wrong before.

http://chronicle.com/stats/aaup/index.php?action=result&...

[scott_s]

That averages the science and engineering professors with the liberal arts professors. At my school, I know the starting salary for a CS professor is going to be around $85k. But looking at the History department, I see some assistant professors as low as $52k.

See: http://www.collegiatetimes.com/databases/salaries/salary?nam...

[sschronk]

That seems like a lot of money. But if you will, please consider this simple scenario:

Even after you obtain your degree you will start out as an Adjunct Professor. These jobs pay about 2-4K per course.

After you have done that for about 10 years or so you might land a job as a professor at a community college.

Now you're making about $40-55K. Teach there for another 5-10 years until you finally get a job at a University to make that $80K.

Compare this (if you will) to the same person who leaves college with Ph.D and starts at $75K.

The difference in earnings over a lifetime is huge.