College Professor Salary in San Francisco, CA
College Professors in San Francisco, CA earn a median of $96,000/year, ranging from $73,920 (25th percentile) to $153,600 (90th percentile). After California state taxes (9.3%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 186), this is equivalent to $51,613 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in San Francisco, CA
Notable employers include UC San Francisco (medical campus), San Francisco State, USF, Stanford (in Palo Alto, commutable for some), UC Berkeley (across the Bay), and several smaller institutions. A one-bedroom in the Mission or Outer Sunset runs around $2,800 to $3,400 monthly - faculty housing programs at UC and Stanford are critical to making the math work for many. BART, Muni, and Caltrain cover most academic commutes. California's progressive state income tax tops past 13%. UCSF's medical research operations and Stanford's nearby presence give Bay Area biomedical faculty research infrastructure that's arguably unmatched globally, alongside humanities and social-science departments at Berkeley and Stanford with deep tenure-track hiring.
1Salary Distribution in San Francisco, CA
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does San Francisco, CA Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA (current) | $96,000 | 186 | $51,613 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $83,000 | 173 | $47,977 |
| San Diego, CA | $80,000 | 152 | $52,632 |
| New York, NY | $92,000 | 187 | $49,198 |
| Seattle, WA | $94,000 | 162 | $58,025 |
| Boston, MA | $85,000 | 162 | $52,469 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average College Professor salary in San Francisco, CA?
The median College Professor salary in San Francisco, CA is $96,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $73,920 and the 90th percentile is $153,600.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a College Professor?
San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 186 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $96,000 College Professor salary in San Francisco, CA is equivalent to $51,613 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 186, meaning it is 86% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in California is approximately 9.3%.
What is the College Professor salary range in San Francisco, CA?
In San Francisco, CA, College Professors earn between $73,920 (25th percentile) and $153,600 (90th percentile), with a median of $96,000 per year.
How many College Professor jobs are there in San Francisco, CA?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 78,000 College Professor positions in the San Francisco, CA metropolitan area.
What do College Professors earn in San Francisco, CA?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, College Professors in San Francisco, CA earn a median annual wage of $96,000. The middle 50% earn between $73,920 and $122,880. The top 10% earn more than $153,600. There are approximately 78,000 College Professors employed in the San Francisco, CA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.3%.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place for a College Professor?
San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 186 (US average = 100), making it 86% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a College Professor in San Francisco, CA earning $96,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $51,613 relative to the US median. California has a state income tax rate of approximately 9.3%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA's cost of living index is 186, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $96,000 in San Francisco, CAhas the same purchasing power as $51,613 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare San Francisco, CA with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a College Professor in San Francisco, CA?
The headline median of $96,000 is only part of the picture. San Francisco, CA's cost of living index is 186 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 54¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $96,000 salary effectively purchases $51,613 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In San Francisco, CA, the median household typically spends 35–45% of gross income on housing — significantly above the 28% "affordable" threshold most lenders use. For a $96,000 salary, that translates to roughly $38,400/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. California levies a state income tax of approximately 9.3%, which reduces take-home by roughly $8,928 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $80,455. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Los Angeles, CA ($83,000 median, COL 173); San Diego, CA ($80,000 median, COL 152); New York, NY ($92,000 median, COL 187). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 4.3% year-over-year growth rate for College Professors in San Francisco, CA is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for College Professors or the California state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.