Professor Salary in Sacramento, CA — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Sacramento's cost of living (index: 126). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Professor Salary in Sacramento — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Sacramento
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Sacramento
Sacramento has a metro population of 2,380,000, offering a large, diverse job market with many employers across all industries. The 4.7% unemployment rate is near the national average.
Financial Calculators for Sacramento
Other Professions in Sacramento
Professor Salary — Other California Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Professor make in Sacramento, CA?
The estimated median salary for a Professor in Sacramento is $106,319 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $84,380 adjusted by Sacramento's cost of living index (126). The typical salary range runs from $72,576 (25th percentile) to $154,300 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $212,839.
Is Sacramento affordable for a Professor?
On a $106,319 annual salary, a Professor in Sacramento would spend approximately 16.4% of gross monthly income on median rent ($1,450/month). This is well within the 28% affordability threshold, making Sacramento relatively affordable for this profession. The median home price of $480,000 is 4.5× the annual salary.
How does a Professor's salary compare to Sacramento's overall income?
Sacramento's median household income is $78,600. A Professor earning the city-adjusted median of $106,319 earns 35.3% more than the typical Sacramento household — placing them solidly in the middle-to-upper income tier for the city.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.