Faculty Salary By Academic Rank at Northwestern University
The 2025 average faculty salary is $182,894 at Northwestern University across all academic ranks. Northwestern's faculty salary increased by 3.13% compared to the 2024 salary.
At Northwestern University, by academic rank:
- The average professor salary is $240,495, representing a 2.25% increase from the previous year (+$5,297).
- The average associate professor salary is $144,508, representing a 1.62% increase from the previous year (+$2,306).
- The average assistant professor salary is $119,619, representing a 3.28% increase from the previous year (+$3,795).
- The average lecturer salary is $91,863, representing a 7.78% increase from the previous year (+$6,631).
Average Salary by Academic Rank Chart
This chart summarizes average faculty salary by academic rank at Northwestern 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 Northwestern University.
At Northwestern, the average male faculty's salary is $201,919 and female faculty's is $156,832. The difference in salary between male and female faculty $45,087, with male faculty' annual salary being 28.75% higher than that of female faculty.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $182,894 +$5,554 (3.13%) |
$201,919 +$4,637 (2.35%) |
$156,832 +$7,072 (4.72%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $182,894 +$5,554 (3.13%) |
$201,919 +$4,637 (2.35%) |
$156,832 +$7,072 (4.72%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Faculty with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Faculty with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | No Faculty with 12-Month Contract | ||
The average salary for Northwestern's 766 Professor is $240,495. By gender, the average male professor salary is $256,259, and that of female professor is $210,864. The salary difference between male and female professor is $45,395, which means male professor's salary is 21.53% higher than female professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $240,495 +$5,297 (2.25%) |
$256,259 +$5,741 (2.29%) |
$210,864 +$6,059 (2.96%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $240,495 +$5,297 (2.25%) |
$256,259 +$5,741 (2.29%) |
$210,864 +$6,059 (2.96%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Professor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | No Professor with 12-Month Contract | ||
The average salary for Northwestern's 388 Associate professor is $144,508. By gender, the average male associate professor salary is $153,895, and that of female associate professor is $135,313. The salary difference between male and female associate professor is $18,582, which means male associate professor's salary is 13.73% higher than female associate professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $144,508 +$2,306 (1.62%) |
$153,895 +$3,747 (2.50%) |
$135,313 +$1,265 (0.94%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $144,508 +$2,306 (1.62%) |
$153,895 +$3,747 (2.50%) |
$135,313 +$1,265 (0.94%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Associate professor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Associate professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | No Associate professor with 12-Month Contract | ||
The average salary for Northwestern's 331 Assistant professor is $119,619. By gender, the average male assistant professor salary is $129,075, and that of female assistant professor is $109,989. The salary difference between male and female assistant professor is $19,086, which means male assistant professor's salary is 17.35% higher than female assistant professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $119,619 +$3,795 (3.28%) |
$129,075 +$1,821 (1.43%) |
$109,989 +$5,325 (5.09%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $119,619 +$3,795 (3.28%) |
$129,075 +$1,821 (1.43%) |
$109,989 +$5,325 (5.09%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Assistant professor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Assistant professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | No Assistant professor with 12-Month Contract | ||
The average salary for Northwestern's 91 Lecturer is $91,863. By gender, the average male lecturer salary is $90,678, and that of female lecturer is $93,442. The salary difference between male and female lecturer is $2,764, which means male lecturer's salary is 2.96% lower than female lecturer's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $91,863 +$6,631 (7.78%) |
$90,678 +$2,381 (2.70%) |
$93,442 +$11,623 (14.21%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $91,863 +$6,631 (7.78%) |
$90,678 +$2,381 (2.70%) |
$93,442 +$11,623 (14.21%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Lecturer with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Lecturer with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | No Lecturer with 12-Month Contract | ||
Faculty Salary Changes over Past 5 Years
The average salary for Northwestern faculty has increased 15.42%, from $154,697 to $182,894. Professor salaries increased by 10.9%, associate professor salaries increased by 4.51%, and assistant professor salaries increased by 1.92% at Northwestern University.
| Year | All Faculty | Professor | Associate Professor | Assistant Professor | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $154,697 | $214,273 | $137,989 | $117,318 | - |
| 2020 | $157,343 | $211,912 1.10% | $130,332 5.55% | $110,384 5.91% | - |
| 2021 | $157,615 | $211,302 0.29% | $127,640 2.07% | $111,432 0.95% | - |
| 2022 | $163,111 | $217,881 3.11% | $128,037 0.31% | $107,134 3.86% | $50,000 |
| 2023 | $168,344 | $224,600 3.08% | $133,959 4.63% | $111,878 4.43% | - |
| 2024 | $177,340 | $235,198 4.72% | $142,202 6.15% | $115,824 3.53% | - |
| 2025 | $182,894 | $240,495 2.25% | $144,508 1.62% | $119,619 3.28% | - |
| 5 Years Change | $28,197 15.42% | $26,222 10.90% | $6,519 4.51% | $2,301 1.92% | - - |
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 Northwestern 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 Northwestern Faculty Salary Compared?
Northwestern's average faculty salary is $182,894. Northwestern's faculty salary is much higher than the national average faculty salary at four-years colleges ($73,709). Its salary is also well above the average salary ($78,858) of four-years colleges in Illinois.
Northwestern University is a R1: Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification. When compared R1: Doctoral Universities, its salary is much higher than national average and higher than Illinois R1: Doctoral Universities.
| Average Faculty Salary | |
|---|---|
| Northwestern University | $182,894 |
| R1: Doctoral Universities | $128,754 |
| Illinois R1: Doctoral Universities | $156,461 |
| National Average (Four-years Colleges) | $73,709 |
| Four-years Illinois Colleges | $78,858 |
Similar Schools' Faculty Salary
Compared to similar colleges such as Spertus College and University of Chicago, Northwestern's faculty salary is higher than the average salary ($132,102). You can compare the salary to analyze or make a decision.
| Average Faculty Salary | Number of Faculty | |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | $182,894 | 2,859 |
| Spertus College Chicago, IL | $181,500 | 45 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | $179,034 | 3,195 |
| Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago Chicago, IL | $173,300 | 18 |
| Rush University Chicago, IL | $123,184 | 1,376 |
| Midwestern University-Downers Grove Downers Grove, IL | $118,832 | 214 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL | $114,626 | 623 |
| DePaul University Chicago, IL | $114,546 | 1,722 |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science North Chicago, IL | $107,066 | 358 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | $104,650 | 688 |
| Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL | $104,279 | 1,901 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Faculty Salary at Northwestern
Here are some frequently asked questions about faculty salary at Northwestern, along with detailed answers based on the latest available data.
What is the average faculty salary at Northwestern?
The average faculty salary at Northwestern is $182,894 for the most recent year with available data. By academic rank, the average salaries are as follows:
- Professors: $240,495
- Associate Professors: $144,508
- Assistant Professors: $119,619
- Instructors: N/A
- Lecturers: $91,863
How does Northwestern's faculty salary compare to similar schools?
Compared to similar schools, such as Spertus, Chicago, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago and 7 other similar schools, Northwestern's average faculty salary is higher than the average salary of similar institutions, which is $132,102. Compare them in the table above.
How does Northwestern's faculty salary compare to four-years colleges nationally?
Compared to four-years colleges nationally, Northwestern's average faculty salary is much higher than the average salary of four-years colleges nationally, which is $73,709.
How does Northwestern's faculty salary compare to R1: Doctoral Universities nationally?
Compared to R1: Doctoral Universities nationally, Northwestern's average faculty salary is much higher than the average salary of R1: Doctoral Universities nationally, which is $128,754.
What are the salary trends for faculty at Northwestern?
The salary trends for faculty at Northwestern over the past few years show that the average salary has Northwestern's faculty salary increased by 3.13% 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 Northwestern?
The gender pay difference among faculty at Northwestern is higher for male faculty by $45,087 (28.75%).
How many faculty members are included in the salary data for Northwestern?
The salary data for Northwestern includes a total of 1,576 faculty members across all ranks.
How does Northwestern's faculty salary compare to state averages?
Compared to state averages for private 4-year college, Northwestern's average faculty salary is much higher than the average faculty salary for colleges in Illinois, which is $78,858.