Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
📖

Professor

society Maturity 5-7

A professor is a great teacher.

Socrates Louvre.jpg
Socrates Louvre.jpg
They work at big schools. They know a lot about one thing. They help students learn new things. It is a very big job. Do you want to learn from a professor?

40 words

A professor is a great teacher.

Socrates Louvre.jpg
Socrates Louvre.jpg

They work at big schools. They know a lot about one thing. They help students learn new things.

Some professors do new research. They find out new facts. This helps everyone learn.

They also help other teachers. They can lead a group of teachers. They might lead a whole school.

Some professors have retired. They are still very special. The school still works with them.

It is a very big job.

82 words

A professor is a high-level teacher at a university. The word comes from a Latin term. It means a person who professes or teaches.

Socrates Louvre.jpg
Socrates Louvre.jpg

Professors are experts in their field. They do many important jobs. They give lectures to students. They also lead new research to find facts. Some professors help graduate students with their big projects.

Einstein 1921 by F Schmutzer - restoration.jpg
Einstein 1921 by F Schmutzer - restoration.jpg

There are different ranks for professors. In the United States, people use the word for many levels. This includes assistant and associate professors. In other places, the title is only for the highest rank. This is often called a full professor.

Professor salaries.svg
Professor salaries.svg

Some professors are retired. They are called emeritus professors. These people are very special to their school. The school may still give them an office or a lab.

Some schools also give the title to famous artists or athletes. These are called honorary professors. They do not always do regular teaching work. Professors can also lead whole departments or even entire schools.

174 words

A professor is a very important teacher at a university. The word comes from a Latin term meaning a person who professes.

Socrates Louvre.jpg
Socrates Louvre.jpg
These people are experts in their specific fields of study. They work at colleges and research institutions around the world. Most professors are highly trained scholars with advanced degrees. Many hold a PhD, which is a special kind of high degree. They are often seen as leaders in their areas of study.
Einstein 1921 by F Schmutzer - restoration.jpg
Einstein 1921 by F Schmutzer - restoration.jpg

Professors have many different jobs to do every day. They give lectures and seminars to teach their students. They also lead original research to find new information. Many professors publish their work in special science or history journals. They often mentor graduate students who are working on big projects. Some professors also help run their university departments. They might even serve as a president or a dean.

Professor salaries.svg
Professor salaries.svg

The history of this role goes back a long time. The term was first used in the late 14th century. It meant someone who teaches a specific branch of knowledge. The Greek philosopher Socrates was one of the earliest recorded professors.

Socrates Louvre.jpg
Socrates Louvre.jpg
As time passed, the title became more formal. In 1706, people began using it as a title before a name. The short form "prof." has been used since 1838. This shows how long people have valued these expert teachers.

There are many different ranks for professors in different countries. In the United States, the word can mean many levels. This includes assistant professors and associate professors. In many European countries, the title is only for the highest rank. This top rank is often called a full professor.

Professor salaries.svg
Professor salaries.svg
Some professors are retired but stay connected to their school. They are called emeritus professors. The school might still give them an office or a lab.

Universities also give special titles to famous people. These are called honorary professors. They might be great artists, athletes, or important leaders. These people do not always do regular teaching work. In some places, like the United Kingdom, there are also research professors. These experts focus mostly on research rather than teaching. This role is often seen as very prestigious. It shows how much we value people who discover new things.

387 words

A professor is a high-ranking academic at a university or research institution. The term originates from the Latin word for a "person who professes."

Socrates Louvre.jpg
Socrates Louvre.jpg
These individuals are recognized experts in specific fields of study. They serve as teachers and researchers at the highest levels of education. In many parts of the world, the title is reserved for the most senior scholars. These experts drive the progress of human knowledge through teaching and discovery.

The daily work of a professor involves several complex responsibilities. They conduct original research and publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals. This means other experts check their work to ensure it is accurate. Professors also deliver lectures and lead seminars to educate students. They mentor graduate students who are working on a thesis or a dissertation. Many also take on administrative roles, such as leading a department or a research institute.

Professor salaries.svg
Professor salaries.svg

Academic ranks vary significantly depending on the country and the institution. In the United States and Canada, the title "professor" often applies to many levels. This includes assistant professors, associate professors, and full professors. However, in many European and Commonwealth nations, "professor" refers only to the highest rank. In Australia, the title of associate professor is used instead of the term "reader."

Professor salaries.svg
Professor salaries.svg
Some institutions also offer the title of research professor. These scholars focus almost entirely on research rather than teaching duties.

The history of this profession stretches back many centuries. The term "professor" first appeared in the late 14th century. At that time, it meant someone who taught a specific branch of knowledge. The Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates is often cited as one of the earliest recorded professors.

Socrates Louvre.jpg
Socrates Louvre.jpg
By 1706, the word began to be used as a formal title before a person's name. The common abbreviation "prof." has been in use since 1838.

There are also special categories of professorship that exist outside the standard career path. An emeritus professor is a retired scholar honored by their university. These individuals do not receive a salary, but they may keep office space or lab access. Universities also grant honorary professor titles to distinguished people. These might be famous artists, athletes, or foreign dignitaries. These individuals do not usually perform academic duties or conduct research for the school.

Salaries for professors differ greatly based on location and academic achievement. In Germany, a mid-level professor in group W2 earns approximately €46,680 annually. The highest level, W3, earns about €56,683, though bonuses can raise this to €71,500. In Switzerland, salaries at the University of Zurich can range from 158,953 CHF to 232,073 CHF.

Professor salaries.svg
Professor salaries.svg
In Italy, the system includes many "professori a contratto," or adjunct professors. These roles are non-tenured and may pay as little as €3,000 for an entire academic year.

Global comparisons show how different nations value academic labor. A 2014 study compared net salaries in Dutch purchasing power. In the United States, a full professor earns about €77,061. In the United Kingdom, a full professor earns about €60,478. In France, the amount is lower, at approximately €38,247.

Professor salaries.svg
Professor salaries.svg
These differences reflect various national economic systems and university funding models. Professors often earn extra income through consulting, publishing books, or giving professional speeches.

540 words
🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Einstein 1921 by F Schmutzer - restoration.jpg
Einstein 1921 by F Schmutzer - restoration.jpg
File:Socrates Louvre.jpg
Socrates Louvre.jpg
File:Toni Morrison 2008-2.jpg
Toni Morrison 2008-2.jpg
File:Professor salaries.svg
Professor salaries.svg
Up Next
📖
Doctorate
Society
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.