An associate professor is a doctorate or PhD-holding academic who teaches at numerous colleges and institutions. Associate Professors undertake research in their field of expertise and write a thesis, which is then published in peer-reviewed publications. A qualifying NET is required for the position of Associate Professor. In India, the average income for an associate professor varies from INR 7.06 to 22.3 LPA. The beginning wage for an Associate Professor is INR 3.3 LPA, which may increase to INR 27.73 LPA with experience and competence.
In India, the average salary for an associate professor is roughly INR 7.52 L - 16.10 LPA. The average monthly pay of an associate professor is around INR 71,806, with the lowest monthly compensation being around INR 36,468. Associate Professors at IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Kharagpur earn an average income of INR 15- 24 LPA. Candidates who gain experience and expertise are promoted to the rank of professor and can earn INR 18-25 LPA. Associate Professors at the University of Delhi earn an average income of INR 13.62- 24.11 LPA.
Associate professor is the second-highest paid job after professor at a private or public college or university. After the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, the average Associate Professor salary in India is Rs 970K per year.
Associate Professor Pay Scale after 7th Pay Commission
Associate Professors' salaries are also affected by their location and amount of expertise in their respective fields. Experience and talents have a direct impact on the compensation of an associate professor. After 5-6 years, an assistant professor is eligible for tenure and advancement to associate professor based on their record of teaching and research. Some associate professors hold that position for the whole of their academic career. Others wish to get to the greatest academic position, that of full professor. Work times are frequently flexible, and many associate professors enjoy summer vacation.
The following table gives information about grade pay of Associate Professor-
Job Levels | Salary of an Associate Professor (Grade Pay)- INR | Salary Structure of an Associate Professor (Entry Scale)- INR |
10 | 6000 | 21600 |
11 | 7000 | 25790 |
12 | 8000 | 29900 |
13 | 9000 | 49200 |
14 | 10000 | 53000 |
15 | 67000 |
College-Wise Salary 2025
The average income of an Associate Professor is shown in the below table, based on the colleges in which they work-
Name of the Company | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
AIIMS | 24.30 L |
Amity University | 18.23 L |
Chandigarh University | 16.50 L |
FIITJEE | 11.67 L |
IIT | 22.98 L |
University of Delhi | 15.45 L |
Designation-Wise Salary 2025
The pay of an Associate Professor is listed below per designation-
Designations | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
Assistant Professor | 5.67 L |
Associate Professor | 8.90 L |
HOD | 12.24 L |
Professor | 10.20 L |
Senior Professor | 22.15 L |
Degree/Certification-Wise Salary 2025
The table below displays the compensation of an Associate Professor based on the degree/certification-
Name of the Certification | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
Bachelors degree | 3.66 - 7.92 L |
Doctorate or PhD | 2.97 - 17.15 L |
2.94 - 9.60 L | |
MRT or Master Reading Teacher Certificate | 4.17 - 10.33 L |
Experience-Wise Salary 2025
The following table shows the average income of an Associate Professor based on years of experience-
Years of Experience | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
8 - 10 years | 14.20 L |
11 - 15 years | 19.40 L |
16 - 20 years | 24.10 L |
20 years and above | 27.60 L |
Also Read: B.ed Course and CMA Salary In India.
Organization-Wise Salary 2025
The table below displays the compensation of an Associate Professor based on the organization-
Name of the Organization | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
Government Sector | 17.71 L |
Private Sector | 18.80 L |
City-Wise Salary 2025
The median wage for an Associate Professor in several cities-
Name of the City | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
Ahmedabad | 15.12 L |
Chandigarh | 14.60 L |
Chennai | 13.51 L |
Delhi | 16.12 L |
Jaipur | 12.10 L |
Mumbai | 15.40 L |
Comparative Analysis of Salaries: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor
The details are tabulated below:
Teaching Designation | Academic Pay Level | Existing Pay Scale | Revised Pay Scale | Entry Pay (₹) | Grade Pay (₹) |
Assistant Professor | 10 | ₹15,600 - ₹39,100 | ₹57,700 - ₹1,82,400 | ₹21,600 | ₹6,000 |
Senior Assistant Professor | 11 | ₹68,900 - ₹2,05,500 | -- | ₹25,790 | ₹7,000 |
Assistant Professor (Higher Grade) | 12 | ₹79,800 - ₹2,11,500 | - | ₹29,900 | ₹8,000 |
Associate Professor | 13A | ₹37,400 - ₹67,000 | ₹1,31,400 - ₹2,17,100 | ₹49,200 | ₹9,000 |
Professor | 14 | ₹1,44,200 - ₹2,18,200 | - | ₹53,000 | ₹10,000 |
Professor (Higher Administrative Grade) | 15 | ₹67,000 - ₹79,000 | ₹1,82,200 - ₹2,24,100 | ₹67,000 | - |
Delhi University Professor Salary 2025
Delhi University (DU) is among the most sought-after organizations for academics in India, calling out to educators from all regions of the country. But arriving at the DU to figure out just how much they are paid, their pay scale, in-hand salary, and chances of promotion is a must for an aspiring faculty member. Details are tabulated below:
DU Professor Salary Structure 2025 | |
Particulars | Details |
Gross Salary of a DU Professor | INR 2,82,320 approx. |
Gross Salary of a DU Professor | INR 2,78,240 approx.
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Delhi University Assistant Professor Salary |
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DU Faculty Salary Structure 2025 | |
Designation | Gross Salary (Approx.) |
Professor (Academic Level 14) | ₹2,82,320 |
Associate Professor (Academic Level 13A) | ₹2,78,240 |
Assistant Professor (Academic Level 10) | ₹1,24,856 |
Delhi University Faculty Perks and Benefits
DU faculty receives various allowances and benefits.
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- Medical Benefits
- Transport Allowance
- Leave and Vacation
How To Become An Associate Professor in 2025?
In order to become an Associate Professor in 2025, follow the steps outlined below:
- Getting a Bachelor's degree in the field and specialization of your interest is the first step.
- Get higher qualifications and degrees like Master's followed by a Ph.D. This will enhance your understanding and expertise of your area of interest.
- Gain relevant experience, and for this, you need to teach in educational institutions. Immerse yourself in research and knowledge.
- Publish papers in reputable journals. This is a great step you must take that improves your chances and ability to be an associate professor.
- Submit applications for being an associate professor.
- Build skills and experience to get promoted from an assistant professor to the rank of associate professor.
What are the Main Responsibilities of an Associate Professor?
The important duties and responsibilities of an associate professor are tabulated below:
- They organize conferences for different topics.
- They interact with students and discuss regarding their issues.
- They also prepare the roadmap for teaching in the class.
- They also prepare their paper and present them in conferences.
- They provides assignments to the students and evaluate them.
Qualifications to Become an Associate Professor
In India, the primary prerequisites and eligibility requirements for becoming an Associate Professor are,
- Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any discipline.
- Applicants must receive a minimum of 55% in their graduation.
- The prospective candidate must additionally earn a master's degree in any field from an accredited university with a minimum cumulative score of 55% or a comparable CGPA.
- To be qualified for Associate Professor, they need to have passed multiple PhD entrance exams, such as NET, IIT JAM, or GATE.
- The applicant needs to have eight years of classroom experience.
Top Recruiters
The following are the top recruiters for Associate Professors-
Christ University | ||
FIITJEE |
Associate Professor Benefits
The following are some of the health and other perks provided to associate professors-
- Housing
- Leave Travel Concession
- Medical coverage
- Leave opportunities
- Fuel and Vehicle maintenance expenses
- Reimbursement of telephone/broadband bills
Similar Jobs Like An Associate Professor in 2025
There are many job positions and profile that are similar to the role of Associate Professor. Some of them are:
- Professor with an average salary of 8 LPA is similar to that of Associate Professor. Professors are senior faculty members who teach at university colleges.
- Assistant Professor with an average salary of 5 LPA is similar to that of Associate Professor. The role of Assistant Professors is the first step in the ladder of being a Professor.
- Research Fellow is another similarity. With an average salary of 4 LPA, a research fellow focuses primarily on conducting high-level research.
- The position of a Lecturer is similar to that of Associate Professor. They may engage in research activities but generally, their main responsibility is facilitating student learning.
- Academic Advisor advises students to take fruitful decisions. With an average salary of 3.5 LPA, they advise on course selection, career options and even some personal matters.