Career comparison
Law Professor vs. Philosophy and Religion Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Law professors earn more at the median ($128,500 vs. $80,260), while philosophy and religion professors usually get to work faster (6–8 years after a bachelor’s of training). Law professors teach future lawyers and write about the law. Philosophy and religion professors teach students to reason clearly about ethics, knowledge and belief.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Law Professor | Philosophy and Religion Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $128,500 | $80,260 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $64,250 – $287,900 | $49,140 – $139,580 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.6% (about as fast as average) | +2.0% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,800 | 1,800 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 7+ years after high school plus experience | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | J.D. | Ph.D. |
| Work setting | Faculty work in law schools, clinics and offices.. | Faculty work in classrooms, offices and libraries.. |
What each job does
Law Professor
- Teach law courses
- Run legal clinics
- Teach legal writing
- Write legal scholarship
- Advise students
Philosophy and Religion Professor
- Teach philosophy or religion courses
- Lead discussions
- Teach applied ethics
- Research and publish
- Mentor students
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, working independently, working with people, and desk work. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose law professor if…
- I love the law
- I enjoy debate
- I like writing
Choose philosophy and religion professor if…
- I love big questions
- I enjoy arguments
- I respect many views
Still torn? Take the Law Professor fit quiz and the Philosophy and Religion Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, law professor or philosophy and religion professor?
Law Professors earn more at the median: $128,500 versus $80,260 for philosophy and religion professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Philosophy and Religion Professors typically train faster (6–8 years after a bachelor’s) than law professors (7+ years after high school plus experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects law professors to grow +2.6% from 2025–35, compared with +2.0% for philosophy and religion professors.