Career comparison
Economics Professor vs. Political Science Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Economics professors earn more at the median ($123,920 vs. $98,070), while economics professors usually get to work faster (5–6 years after a bachelor’s of training). Economics professors teach how markets, money and policy work, and research the economy. Political science professors teach how governments, elections and policy work.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Economics Professor | Political Science Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $123,920 | $98,070 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $64,060 – $224,200 | $56,450 – $174,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.4% (slower than average) | +2.5% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 1,000 | 1,500 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 5–6 years after a bachelor’s | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in economics | Ph.D. in political science |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms and offices at colleges and universities.. | Faculty work in classrooms and offices at colleges and universities.. |
What each job does
Economics Professor
- Teach economics courses
- Analyze economic data
- Conduct research
- Publish papers
- Advise students
Political Science Professor
- Teach government and politics courses
- Conduct research
- Analyze data on elections and policy
- Publish research
- Mentor students
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, high-pay, working independently, and desk work. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose economics professor if…
- I love economics
- I enjoy data
- I like teaching
Choose political science professor if…
- I love politics and policy
- I can stay neutral in class
- I enjoy teaching
Still torn? Take the Economics Professor fit quiz and the Political Science Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, economics professor or political science professor?
Economics Professors earn more at the median: $123,920 versus $98,070 for political science professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Economics Professors typically train faster (5–6 years after a bachelor’s) than political science professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects political science professors to grow +2.5% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for economics professors.