Faculty Salary By Academic Rank at Pacific Lutheran University
The 2025 average faculty salary is $77,291 at Pacific Lutheran University across all academic ranks. PLU's faculty salary decreased by 3.13% compared to the 2024 salary.
At Pacific Lutheran University, by academic rank:
- The average professor salary is $85,505, representing a -5.07% decrease from the previous year (-$4,568).
- The average associate professor salary is $81,761, representing a 2.74% increase from the previous year (+$2,178).
- The average assistant professor salary is $70,613, representing a -5.70% decrease from the previous year (-$4,270).
- The average instructor salary is $68,091, representing a 1.40% increase from the previous year (+$943).
Average Salary by Academic Rank Chart
This chart summarizes average faculty salary by academic rank at Pacific Lutheran 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 Pacific Lutheran University.
At PLU, the average male faculty's salary is $75,278 and female faculty's is $78,616. The difference in salary between male and female faculty $3,338, with male faculty' annual salary being 4.25% lower than that of female faculty.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $77,291 -$2,500 (-3.13%) |
$75,278 -$8,008 (-9.62%) |
$78,616 +$942 (1.21%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $77,500 -$2,576 (-3.22%) |
$75,127 -$8,514 (-10.18%) |
$79,380 +$1,630 (2.10%) |
| 10-Month Contract | $81,000 | - | $81,000 |
| 11-Month Contract | $106,144 | $106,144 | - |
| 12-Month Contract | $100,316 -$107 (-0.11%) |
- - |
$100,316 -$2,183 (-2.13%) |
The average salary for PLU's 49 Professor is $85,505. By gender, the average male professor salary is $85,743, and that of female professor is $85,257. The salary difference between male and female professor is $486, which means male professor's salary is 0.57% higher than female professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $85,505 -$4,568 (-5.07%) |
$85,743 -$5,725 (-6.26%) |
$85,257 -$3,002 (-3.40%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $85,445 -$4,628 (-5.14%) |
$85,698 -$5,770 (-6.31%) |
$85,182 -$3,077 (-3.49%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Professor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | $106,144 | $106,144 | - |
| 12-Month Contract | $116,000 | - | $116,000 |
The average salary for PLU's 58 Associate professor is $81,761. By gender, the average male associate professor salary is $78,956, and that of female associate professor is $83,127. The salary difference between male and female associate professor is $4,171, which means male associate professor's salary is 5.02% lower than female associate professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $81,761 +$2,178 (2.74%) |
$78,956 -$1,161 (-1.45%) |
$83,127 +$3,790 (4.78%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $81,448 +$2,095 (2.64%) |
$78,956 -$1,161 (-1.45%) |
$82,840 +$3,858 (4.88%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Associate professor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Associate professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $113,438 -$1,108 (-0.97%) |
- | $113,438 -$1,108 (-0.97%) |
The average salary for PLU's 55 Assistant professor is $70,613. By gender, the average male assistant professor salary is $66,783, and that of female assistant professor is $74,885. The salary difference between male and female assistant professor is $8,102, which means male assistant professor's salary is 10.82% lower than female assistant professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $70,613 -$4,270 (-5.70%) |
$66,783 -$9,077 (-11.97%) |
$74,885 +$653 (0.88%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $70,417 -$4,121 (-5.53%) |
$66,783 -$9,077 (-11.97%) |
$74,808 +$1,262 (1.72%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Assistant professor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Assistant professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $101,086 -$5,198 (-4.89%) |
- | $101,086 -$5,198 (-4.89%) |
The average salary for PLU's 32 Instructor is $68,091. By gender, the average male instructor salary is $54,000, and that of female instructor is $70,104. The salary difference between male and female instructor is $16,104, which means male instructor's salary is 22.97% lower than female instructor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $68,091 +$943 (1.40%) |
$54,000 -$7,300 (-11.91%) |
$70,104 +$2,631 (3.90%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $66,595 -$91 (-0.14%) |
$54,000 | $69,954 +$3,268 (4.90%) |
| 10-Month Contract | $81,000 | - | $81,000 |
| 11-Month Contract | No Instructor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $93,413 +$2,156 (2.36%) |
- - |
$93,413 -$225 (-0.24%) |
Faculty Salary Changes over Past 5 Years
The average salary for PLU faculty has increased 8.5%, from $70,724 to $77,291. Professor salaries increased by 2.77%, associate professor salaries increased by 14.58%, and assistant professor salaries increased by 7.68% at Pacific Lutheran University.
| Year | All Faculty | Professor | Associate Professor | Assistant Professor | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,724 | $83,133 | $69,838 | $65,191 | $61,342 |
| 2020 | $70,553 | $79,123 4.82% | $69,954 0.17% | $68,677 5.35% | $56,453 7.97% |
| 2021 | $72,464 | $82,534 4.31% | $66,484 4.96% | $73,352 6.81% | $60,313 6.84% |
| 2022 | $71,577 | $83,455 1.12% | $66,291 0.29% | $70,442 3.97% | $58,766 2.56% |
| 2023 | $77,161 | $87,059 4.32% | $73,728 11.22% | $77,225 9.63% | $60,498 2.95% |
| 2024 | $79,791 | $90,073 3.46% | $79,583 7.94% | $74,883 3.03% | $67,148 10.99% |
| 2025 | $77,291 | $85,505 5.07% | $81,761 2.74% | $70,613 5.70% | $68,091 1.40% |
| 5 Years Change | $6,567 8.50% | $2,372 2.77% | $11,923 14.58% | $5,422 7.68% | $6,749 9.91% |
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 Pacific Lutheran 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 PLU Faculty Salary Compared?
PLU's average faculty salary is $77,291. PLU's faculty salary is similar to the national average faculty salary at four-years colleges ($73,709). Its salary is slightly lower than the average salary of four-years colleges in Washington.
Pacific Lutheran University is a Master's Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification. When compared Master's Colleges, its salary is slightly higher than national average as well as Washington average.
| Average Faculty Salary | |
|---|---|
| Pacific Lutheran University | $77,291 |
| Master's Colleges | $69,621 |
| Washington Master's Colleges | $72,817 |
| National Average (Four-years Colleges) | $73,709 |
| Four-years Washington Colleges | $83,501 |
Similar Schools' Faculty Salary
Compared to similar colleges such as Gonzaga University and Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, PLU's faculty salary is slightly lower than the average salary ($84,587). You can compare the salary to analyze or make a decision.
| Average Faculty Salary | Number of Faculty | |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Lutheran University | $77,291 | 292 |
| Gonzaga University Spokane, WA | $99,583 | 828 |
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences Yakima, WA | $97,889 | 72 |
| University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA | $96,569 | 257 |
| Whitman College Walla Walla, WA | $95,654 | 210 |
| Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA | $86,554 | 358 |
| Northwest University Kirkland, WA | $77,025 | 191 |
| Heritage University Toppenish, WA | $76,106 | 200 |
| Whitworth University Spokane, WA | $74,670 | 306 |
| Seattle University Seattle, WA | $74,319 | 782 |
| Saint Martin's University Lacey, WA | $67,504 | 219 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Faculty Salary at PLU
Here are some frequently asked questions about faculty salary at PLU, along with detailed answers based on the latest available data.
What is the average faculty salary at PLU?
The average faculty salary at PLU is $77,291 for the most recent year with available data. By academic rank, the average salaries are as follows:
- Professors: $85,505
- Associate Professors: $81,761
- Assistant Professors: $70,613
- Instructors: $68,091
- Lecturers: N/A
How does PLU's faculty salary compare to similar schools?
Compared to similar schools, such as Gonzaga, PNWU, Puget Sound and 7 other similar schools, PLU's average faculty salary is slightly lower than the average salary of similar institutions, which is $84,587. Compare them in the table above.
How does PLU's faculty salary compare to four-years colleges nationally?
Compared to four-years colleges nationally, PLU's average faculty salary is similar to the average salary of four-years colleges nationally, which is $73,709.
How does PLU's faculty salary compare to Master's Colleges nationally?
Compared to Master's Colleges nationally, PLU's average faculty salary is slightly higher than the average salary of Master's Colleges nationally, which is $69,621.
What are the salary trends for faculty at PLU?
The salary trends for faculty at PLU over the past few years show that the average salary has PLU's faculty salary decreased 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 PLU?
The gender pay difference among faculty at PLU is higher for female faculty by $3,338 (4.25%).
How many faculty members are included in the salary data for PLU?
The salary data for PLU includes a total of 194 faculty members across all ranks.
How does PLU's faculty salary compare to state averages?
Compared to state averages for private 4-year college, PLU's average faculty salary is slightly lower than the average faculty salary for colleges in Washington, which is $83,501.