Career comparison
Chemistry Professor vs. Physics Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Physics professors earn more at the median ($100,310 vs. $93,250), while chemistry professors usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). Chemistry professors teach chemistry lectures and labs and lead chemical research. Physics professors teach physics and lead research into how the universe works.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Chemistry Professor | Physics Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $93,250 | $100,310 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $57,870 – $172,110 | $60,200 – $177,850 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.3% (slower than average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,700 | 1,100 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 6–9 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in chemistry | Ph.D. in physics |
| Work setting | Chemistry faculty work in classrooms, teaching labs and research labs.. | Faculty work in classrooms, labs, observatories and offices.. |
What each job does
Chemistry Professor
- Teach chemistry lectures
- Design and supervise labs
- Train students on instruments
- Lead a research group
- Write grants
Physics Professor
- Teach physics courses
- Run labs and demonstrations
- Lead research
- Mentor students
- Write grants
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently, problem-solving, indoor work, and working with people. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose chemistry professor if…
- I love chemistry
- I like lab work
- I enjoy teaching
Choose physics professor if…
- I love physics
- I enjoy math
- I like explaining hard ideas
Still torn? Take the Chemistry Professor fit quiz and the Physics Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chemistry professor or physics professor?
Physics Professors earn more at the median: $100,310 versus $93,250 for chemistry professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Chemistry Professors typically train faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s) than physics professors (6–9 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects physics professors to grow +2.4% from 2025–35, compared with +2.3% for chemistry professors.