Question: I'm thinking about doing a PhD in political science to become a professor and am wondering what sort of money professors make starting out. Thanks!
Answer: Starting salaries vary wildly from place to place, according to these factors:
State-underfunded public vs. well-endowed private
Urban (high cost of living) vs. rural (low cost of living)
Prestige of particular department in the specific field of study
Community college vs. bachelor's-only college vs. doctoral-granting university
Whether you have PhD in hand, or are ABD
The range for poli sci is from about 35 K on the low end to about 65K on the higher end. Some very few prestigious private universities are able to offer to start you at as much as 70K, but the most common starting salaries will be around 45K.
Others: