Faculty Salary By Academic Rank at Vanderbilt University
The 2025 average faculty salary is $148,484 at Vanderbilt University across all academic ranks. Vanderbilt's faculty salary increased by 5.44% compared to the 2024 salary.
At Vanderbilt University, by academic rank:
- The average professor salary is $221,801, representing a 4.48% increase from the previous year (+$9,514).
- The average associate professor salary is $132,999, representing a 5.50% increase from the previous year (+$6,931).
- The average assistant professor salary is $111,831, representing a 2.31% increase from the previous year (+$2,530).
- The average instructor salary is $67,947, representing a 1.17% increase from the previous year (+$783).
- The average lecturer salary is $76,041, representing a 3.37% increase from the previous year (+$2,478).
- The average no academic rank salary is $78,833, representing a 6.00% increase from the previous year (+$4,464).
Average Salary by Academic Rank Chart
This chart summarizes average faculty salary by academic rank at Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt University.
At Vanderbilt, the average male faculty's salary is $168,970 and female faculty's is $127,899. The difference in salary between male and female faculty $41,071, with male faculty' annual salary being 32.11% higher than that of female faculty.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $148,484 +$7,655 (5.44%) |
$168,970 +$6,450 (3.97%) |
$127,899 +$8,111 (6.77%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $153,210 +$5,037 (3.40%) |
$170,919 +$4,450 (2.67%) |
$131,847 +$5,178 (4.09%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Faculty with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Faculty with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $167,152 +$28,196 (20.29%) |
$200,318 +$39,554 (24.60%) |
$154,363 +$22,817 (17.35%) |
The average salary for Vanderbilt's 451 Professor is $221,801. By gender, the average male professor salary is $231,857, and that of female professor is $203,334. The salary difference between male and female professor is $28,523, which means male professor's salary is 14.03% higher than female professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $221,801 +$9,514 (4.48%) |
$231,857 +$10,844 (4.91%) |
$203,334 +$8,740 (4.49%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $223,734 +$5,503 (2.52%) |
$232,111 +$8,845 (3.96%) |
$204,815 -$1,010 (-0.49%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Professor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $278,946 +$59,957 (27.38%) |
$304,772 +$61,896 (25.48%) |
$265,039 +$57,993 (28.01%) |
The average salary for Vanderbilt's 240 Associate professor is $132,999. By gender, the average male associate professor salary is $138,866, and that of female associate professor is $127,690. The salary difference between male and female associate professor is $11,176, which means male associate professor's salary is 8.75% higher than female associate professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $132,999 +$6,931 (5.50%) |
$138,866 +$9,122 (7.03%) |
$127,690 +$5,178 (4.23%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $133,228 +$5,178 (4.04%) |
$135,361 +$4,464 (3.41%) |
$131,055 +$6,106 (4.89%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Associate professor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Associate professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $175,343 +$26,482 (17.79%) |
$239,686 +$87,844 (57.85%) |
$150,165 +$2,440 (1.65%) |
The average salary for Vanderbilt's 315 Assistant professor is $111,831. By gender, the average male assistant professor salary is $121,224, and that of female assistant professor is $105,733. The salary difference between male and female assistant professor is $15,491, which means male assistant professor's salary is 14.65% higher than female assistant professor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $111,831 +$2,530 (2.31%) |
$121,224 +$2,277 (1.91%) |
$105,733 +$1,876 (1.81%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $118,732 +$2,514 (2.16%) |
$124,901 +$3,172 (2.61%) |
$113,631 +$1,337 (1.19%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Assistant professor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Assistant professor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $118,051 +$459 (0.39%) |
$123,117 -$10,999 (-8.20%) |
$116,829 +$3,171 (2.79%) |
The average salary for Vanderbilt's 31 Instructor is $67,947. By gender, the average male instructor salary is $66,855, and that of female instructor is $68,209. The salary difference between male and female instructor is $1,354, which means male instructor's salary is 1.99% lower than female instructor's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $67,947 +$783 (1.17%) |
$66,855 +$2,929 (4.58%) |
$68,209 +$314 (0.46%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $62,710 +$1,510 (2.47%) |
$65,663 +$1,913 (3.00%) |
$61,233 +$1,308 (2.18%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Instructor with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Instructor with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $91,344 +$1,111 (1.23%) |
$89,457 +$4,183 (4.91%) |
$91,754 +$495 (0.54%) |
The average salary for Vanderbilt's 194 Lecturer is $76,041. By gender, the average male lecturer salary is $75,428, and that of female lecturer is $76,490. The salary difference between male and female lecturer is $1,062, which means male lecturer's salary is 1.39% lower than female lecturer's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $76,041 +$2,478 (3.37%) |
$75,428 +$1,816 (2.47%) |
$76,490 +$2,959 (4.02%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $75,833 +$2,527 (3.45%) |
$74,371 +$2,088 (2.89%) |
$76,870 +$2,898 (3.92%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No Lecturer with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No Lecturer with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $104,105 +$2,287 (2.25%) |
$112,011 -$4,621 (-3.96%) |
$96,198 +$4,749 (5.19%) |
The average salary for Vanderbilt's 18 No academic rank is $78,833. By gender, the average male no academic rank salary is $78,014, and that of female no academic rank is $79,488. The salary difference between male and female no academic rank is $1,474, which means male no academic rank's salary is 1.85% lower than female no academic rank's salary.
| Contract Length | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equated to 9-Month Contract | $78,833 +$4,464 (6.00%) |
$78,014 +$3,941 (5.32%) |
$79,488 +$5,013 (6.73%) |
| 9-Month Contract | $81,311 +$4,901 (6.41%) |
$80,336 +$2,736 (3.53%) |
$82,070 +$6,026 (7.92%) |
| 10-Month Contract | No academic rank with 10-Month Contract | ||
| 11-Month Contract | No academic rank with 11-Month Contract | ||
| 12-Month Contract | $78,675 +$2,650 (3.49%) |
$82,349 +$2,399 (3.00%) |
$75,000 +$2,900 (4.02%) |
Faculty Salary Changes over Past 5 Years
The average salary for Vanderbilt faculty has increased 14.54%, from $126,890 to $148,484. Professor salaries increased by 12.71%, associate professor salaries increased by 13.62%, and assistant professor salaries increased by 14.93% at Vanderbilt University.
| Year | All Faculty | Professor | Associate Professor | Assistant Professor | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $126,890 | $193,619 | $114,879 | $95,139 | $65,114 |
| 2020 | $131,982 | $198,579 2.56% | $117,440 2.23% | $98,896 3.95% | $65,270 0.24% |
| 2021 | $133,016 | $194,262 2.17% | $119,195 1.49% | $97,535 1.38% | $64,963 0.47% |
| 2022 | $134,547 | $198,503 2.18% | $119,742 0.46% | $100,724 3.27% | $66,963 3.08% |
| 2023 | $136,648 | $202,291 1.91% | $124,148 3.68% | $104,238 3.49% | $66,225 1.10% |
| 2024 | $140,829 | $212,287 4.94% | $126,068 1.55% | $109,301 4.86% | $67,164 1.42% |
| 2025 | $148,484 | $221,801 4.48% | $132,999 5.50% | $111,831 2.31% | $67,947 1.17% |
| 5 Years Change | $21,594 14.54% | $28,182 12.71% | $18,120 13.62% | $16,692 14.93% | $2,833 4.17% |
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 Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt Faculty Salary Compared?
Vanderbilt's average faculty salary is $148,484. Vanderbilt'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 ($64,874) of four-years colleges in Tennessee.
Vanderbilt University is a R1: Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification. When compared R1: Doctoral Universities, its salary is higher than national average as well as Tennessee average.
| Average Faculty Salary | |
|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | $148,484 |
| R1: Doctoral Universities | $128,754 |
| Tennessee R1: Doctoral Universities | $117,826 |
| National Average (Four-years Colleges) | $73,709 |
| Four-years Tennessee Colleges | $64,874 |
Similar Schools' Faculty Salary
Compared to similar colleges such as Belmont University and Baptist Health Sciences University, Vanderbilt's faculty salary is much higher than the average salary ($79,775). You can compare the salary to analyze or make a decision.
| Average Faculty Salary | Number of Faculty | |
|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | $148,484 | 1,628 |
| Belmont University Nashville, TN | $94,917 | 924 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis, TN | $93,174 | 71 |
| The University of the South Sewanee, TN | $91,418 | 206 |
| Rhodes College Memphis, TN | $85,478 | 226 |
| Lipscomb University Nashville, TN | $79,080 | 563 |
| Union University Jackson, TN | $73,716 | 287 |
| Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN | $72,298 | 231 |
| Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN | $70,510 | 662 |
| Lee University Cleveland, TN | $68,906 | 493 |
| Herzing University-Nashville Nashville, TN | $68,250 | - |
Frequently Asked Questions about Faculty Salary at Vanderbilt
Here are some frequently asked questions about faculty salary at Vanderbilt, along with detailed answers based on the latest available data.
What is the average faculty salary at Vanderbilt?
The average faculty salary at Vanderbilt is $148,484 for the most recent year with available data. By academic rank, the average salaries are as follows:
- Professors: $221,801
- Associate Professors: $132,999
- Assistant Professors: $111,831
- Instructors: $67,947
- Lecturers: $76,041
How does Vanderbilt's faculty salary compare to similar schools?
Compared to similar schools, such as Belmont, Baptist Health Sciences, Sewanee and 7 other similar schools, Vanderbilt's average faculty salary is much higher than the average salary of similar institutions, which is $79,775. Compare them in the table above.
How does Vanderbilt's faculty salary compare to four-years colleges nationally?
Compared to four-years colleges nationally, Vanderbilt's average faculty salary is much higher than the average salary of four-years colleges nationally, which is $73,709.
How does Vanderbilt's faculty salary compare to R1: Doctoral Universities nationally?
Compared to R1: Doctoral Universities nationally, Vanderbilt's average faculty salary is higher than the average salary of R1: Doctoral Universities nationally, which is $128,754.
What are the salary trends for faculty at Vanderbilt?
The salary trends for faculty at Vanderbilt over the past few years show that the average salary has Vanderbilt's faculty salary increased by 5.44% 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 Vanderbilt?
The gender pay difference among faculty at Vanderbilt is higher for male faculty by $41,071 (32.11%).
How many faculty members are included in the salary data for Vanderbilt?
The salary data for Vanderbilt includes a total of 1,249 faculty members across all ranks.
How does Vanderbilt's faculty salary compare to state averages?
Compared to state averages for private 4-year college, Vanderbilt's average faculty salary is much higher than the average faculty salary for colleges in Tennessee, which is $64,874.