Faculty Salary By Academic Rank at Montana State University
The 2025 average faculty salary is $87,925 at Montana State University across all academic ranks. MSU's faculty salary increased by 5.09% compared to the 2024 salary.
At Montana State University, by academic rank:
- The average professor salary is $115,909, representing a 5.29% increase from the previous year (+$5,827).
- The average associate professor salary is $87,747, representing a 5.07% increase from the previous year (+$4,232).
- The average assistant professor salary is $75,761, representing a 4.04% increase from the previous year (+$2,940).
- The average instructor salary is $64,198, representing a 5.73% increase from the previous year (+$3,480).
- The average no academic rank salary is $59,762, representing a 2.99% increase from the previous year (+$1,733).
Average Salary by Academic Rank Chart
This chart summarizes average faculty salary by academic rank at Montana State University for the most recent year and the prior year.
The side-by-side bars compare current versus previous salaries for each rank, while the line shows the percentage change to highlight increases, decreases, or no change.
Faculty Salary By Gender
The following tables show the average faculty salary by academic rank and gender at Montana State University.
At MSU, the average male faculty's salary is $92,148 and female faculty's is $83,365. The difference in salary between male and female faculty $8,783, with male faculty' annual salary being 10.54% higher than that of female faculty.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $87,925 +$4,255 (5.09%) |
$92,148 +$3,411 (3.84%) |
$83,365 +$5,287 (6.77%) |
| 9-Month Contract | No Faculty with 9-Month Contract | ||
| 10-Month Contract | $98,125 +$4,775 (5.12%) |
$102,255 +$3,891 (3.96%) |
$93,598 +$5,875 (6.70%) |
| 11-Month Contract | No Faculty with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $112,179 +$5,321 (4.98%) |
$124,538 +$3,086 (2.54%) |
$100,645 +$7,374 (7.91%) |
The average salary for MSU's 194 Professor is $115,909. By gender, the average male professor salary is $115,285, and that of female professor is $117,146. The salary difference between male and female professor is $1,861, which means male professor's salary is 1.59% lower than female professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $115,909 +$5,827 (5.29%) |
$115,285 +$4,652 (4.20%) |
$117,146 +$8,329 (7.65%) |
| 9-Month Contract | No Professor with 9-Month Contract | ||
| 10-Month Contract | $129,072 +$6,352 (5.18%) |
$128,135 +$4,760 (3.86%) |
$130,850 +$9,536 (7.86%) |
| 11-Month Contract | No Professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $152,008 +$9,191 (6.44%) |
$153,394 +$9,564 (6.65%) |
$148,078 +$9,567 (6.91%) |
The average salary for MSU's 146 Associate professor is $87,747. By gender, the average male associate professor salary is $89,868, and that of female associate professor is $85,845. The salary difference between male and female associate professor is $4,023, which means male associate professor's salary is 4.69% higher than female associate professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $87,747 +$4,232 (5.07%) |
$89,868 +$6,302 (7.54%) |
$85,845 +$2,384 (2.86%) |
| 9-Month Contract | No Associate professor with 9-Month Contract | ||
| 10-Month Contract | $99,030 +$4,974 (5.29%) |
$100,863 +$7,220 (7.71%) |
$97,197 +$2,654 (2.81%) |
| 11-Month Contract | No Associate professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $96,440 +$865 (0.91%) |
$79,260 -$13,393 (-14.46%) |
$99,877 +$3,133 (3.24%) |
The average salary for MSU's 153 Assistant professor is $75,761. By gender, the average male assistant professor salary is $76,702, and that of female assistant professor is $74,902. The salary difference between male and female assistant professor is $1,800, which means male assistant professor's salary is 2.40% higher than female assistant professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $75,761 +$2,940 (4.04%) |
$76,702 +$2,241 (3.01%) |
$74,902 +$3,381 (4.73%) |
| 9-Month Contract | No Assistant professor with 9-Month Contract | ||
| 10-Month Contract | $85,814 +$3,431 (4.16%) |
$86,317 +$2,201 (2.62%) |
$85,333 +$4,357 (5.38%) |
| 11-Month Contract | No Assistant professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $81,534 +$1,412 (1.76%) |
$84,454 +$3,741 (4.63%) |
$79,911 +$158 (0.20%) |
The average salary for MSU's 46 Instructor is $64,198. By gender, the average male instructor salary is $62,271, and that of female instructor is $65,436. The salary difference between male and female instructor is $3,165, which means male instructor's salary is 4.84% lower than female instructor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $64,198 +$3,480 (5.73%) |
$62,271 +$369 (0.60%) |
$65,436 +$6,226 (10.52%) |
| 9-Month Contract | No Instructor with 9-Month Contract | ||
| 10-Month Contract | $71,331 +$3,867 (5.73%) |
$69,190 +$410 (0.60%) |
$72,707 +$6,919 (10.52%) |
| 11-Month Contract | No Instructor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | No Instructor with 12-Month Contract | ||
The average salary for MSU's 87 No academic rank is $59,762. By gender, the average male no academic rank salary is $59,867, and that of female no academic rank is $59,687. The salary difference between male and female no academic rank is $180, which means male no academic rank's salary is 0.30% higher than female no academic rank's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $59,762 +$1,733 (2.99%) |
$59,867 +$2,833 (4.97%) |
$59,687 +$1,147 (1.96%) |
| 9-Month Contract | No academic rank with 9-Month Contract | ||
| 10-Month Contract | $66,462 +$1,878 (2.91%) |
$67,059 +$3,335 (5.23%) |
$66,048 +$991 (1.52%) |
| 11-Month Contract | No academic rank with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $79,052 +$3,393 (4.48%) |
$74,642 +$14,722 (24.57%) |
$82,580 +$4,673 (6.00%) |
Faculty Salary Changes over Past 5 Years
The average salary for MSU faculty has increased 9.1%, from $79,927 to $87,925. Professor salaries increased by 12.68%, associate professor salaries increased by 13.16%, and assistant professor salaries increased by 4.53% at Montana State University.
| Year | All Faculty | Professor | Associate Professor | Assistant Professor | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $79,927 | $101,208 | $76,199 | $72,332 | $56,104 |
| 2020 | $69,425 | $95,984 5.16% | $69,926 8.23% | $62,499 13.59% | $51,394 8.40% |
| 2021 | $71,910 | $97,785 1.88% | $72,988 4.38% | $61,850 1.04% | $49,053 4.56% |
| 2022 | $77,421 | $98,569 0.80% | $76,242 4.46% | $67,453 9.06% | $52,886 7.81% |
| 2023 | $77,786 | $101,274 2.74% | $76,713 0.62% | $68,811 2.01% | $55,761 5.44% |
| 2024 | $83,670 | $110,082 8.70% | $83,515 8.87% | $72,821 5.83% | $60,718 8.89% |
| 2025 | $87,925 | $115,909 5.29% | $87,747 5.07% | $75,761 4.04% | $64,198 5.73% |
| 5 Years Change | $7,998 9.10% | $14,701 12.68% | $11,548 13.16% | $3,429 4.53% | $8,094 12.61% |
Faculty Salary Trends Chart by Academic Rank
This interactive faculty salary trends chart shows year-by-year average salaries for all faculty, professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and instructors at Montana State University. It highlights long-term salary growth, rank-by-rank changes, and historical comparisons to help evaluate compensation trends and academic rank salary patterns over the past 5 years.
How MSU Faculty Salary Compared?
MSU's average faculty salary is $87,925. MSU's faculty salary is higher than the national average faculty salary at four-years colleges ($73,709). Its salary is much higher than the average salary of four-years colleges in Montana.
Montana State University is a R1: Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification. When compared R1: Doctoral Universities, its salary is much lower than national average and similar to Montana R1: Doctoral Universities.
| Average Faculty Salary | |
|---|---|
| Montana State University | $87,925 |
| R1: Doctoral Universities | $128,754 |
| Montana R1: Doctoral Universities | $85,974 |
| National Average (Four-years Colleges) | $73,709 |
| Four-years Montana Colleges | $62,465 |
Similar Schools' Faculty Salary
Compared to similar colleges such as The University of Montana and Montana Technological University, MSU's faculty salary is higher than the average salary ($64,004). You can compare the salary to analyze or make a decision.
| Average Faculty Salary | Number of Faculty | |
|---|---|---|
| Montana State University | $87,925 | 1,179 |
| The University of Montana Missoula, MT | $84,022 | 592 |
| Montana Technological University Butte, MT | $78,482 | 182 |
| The University of Montana-Western Dillon, MT | $70,907 | 108 |
| Montana State University Billings Billings, MT | $69,555 | 223 |
| Stone Child College Box Elder, MT | $56,565 | 22 |
| Montana State University-Northern Havre, MT | $55,613 | 81 |
| Salish Kootenai College Pablo, MT | $53,010 | 108 |
| Aaniiih Nakoda College Harlem, MT | $43,874 | 18 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Faculty Salary at MSU
Here are some frequently asked questions about faculty salary at MSU, along with detailed answers based on the latest available data.
What is the average faculty salary at MSU?
The average faculty salary at MSU is $87,925 for the most recent year with available data. By academic rank, the average salaries are as follows:
- Professors: $115,909
- Associate Professors: $87,747
- Assistant Professors: $75,761
- Instructors: $64,198
- Lecturers: N/A
How does MSU's faculty salary compare to similar schools?
Compared to similar schools, such as The University of Montana, Montana Technological, WMC and 5 other similar schools, MSU's average faculty salary is higher than the average salary of similar institutions, which is $64,004. Compare them in the table above.
How does MSU's faculty salary compare to four-years colleges nationally?
Compared to four-years colleges nationally, MSU's average faculty salary is higher than the average salary of four-years colleges nationally, which is $73,709.
How does MSU's faculty salary compare to R1: Doctoral Universities nationally?
Compared to R1: Doctoral Universities nationally, MSU's average faculty salary is much lower than the average salary of R1: Doctoral Universities nationally, which is $128,754.
What are the salary trends for faculty at MSU?
The salary trends for faculty at MSU over the past few years show that the average salary has MSU's faculty salary increased by 5.09% compared to the 2024 salary. For more detailed trends by academic rank, please refer to the faculty salary trends table and chart above.
What is the gender pay difference among faculty at MSU?
The gender pay difference among faculty at MSU is higher for male faculty by $8,783 (10.54%).
How many faculty members are included in the salary data for MSU?
The salary data for MSU includes a total of 626 faculty members across all ranks.
How does MSU's faculty salary compare to state averages?
Compared to state averages for public 4-year college, MSU's average faculty salary is much higher than the average faculty salary for colleges in Montana, which is $62,465.