Career comparison
Law Professor vs. Political Science 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. $98,070), while political science professors usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). Law professors teach future lawyers and write about the law. Political science professors teach how governments, elections and policy work.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Law Professor | Political Science Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $128,500 | $98,070 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $64,250 – $287,900 | $56,450 – $174,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.6% (about as fast as average) | +2.5% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 1,800 | 1,500 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 7+ years after high school plus experience | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | J.D. | Ph.D. in political science |
| Work setting | Faculty work in law schools, clinics and offices.. | Faculty work in classrooms and offices at colleges and universities.. |
What each job does
Law Professor
- Teach law courses
- Run legal clinics
- Teach legal writing
- Write legal scholarship
- 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 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 political science professor if…
- I love politics and policy
- I can stay neutral in class
- I enjoy teaching
Still torn? Take the Law Professor fit quiz and the Political Science Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, law professor or political science professor?
Law Professors earn more at the median: $128,500 versus $98,070 for political science professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Political Science Professors typically train faster (5–7 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 +2.5% for political science professors.