If university professors were so good why don't they work full time and make a lot of money?

Question

You know what they say "those who can't do, teach" - does it not appear to be true? Why would great marketers be professors if they could make a really nice salary working as a CMO, or director of marketing for Fortune 500 company. Just apply the same to all other kinds of professors.

Answer 1

Speaking as a college professor who has worked both full and part-time, let me tell you that I don't focus entirely on money. Yes, I do need to earn enough to live, but I teach because I truly enjoy sharing my knowledge with others.

However, I didn't start off teaching, but rather began my career in the business world, and then entered the teaching profession later in life.

And as for why we work part-time rather than full-time, the answer to that differs with one's situation. It could simply be the lack of available full-time work, which means you take what's available. And if part-time is the only thing, and you want to teach, then that's what you do. Others have full-time jobs and are doing some part-time teaching on the side. Personally, I've gone both routes.

It's the same with non-teaching jobs, where many work temp or part-time because of family, lack of full-time jobs, etc. Same goes with teaching.

Now the funny part is that I'm sure many of my students will go on to make more money than I do, but then again, I'm not in it for the money. Earning big bucks and not enjoying what you do, or working yourself crazy isn't what I want at this stage in my career.

But there plenty of us part-timers who earn big bucks by doing some teaching here and there, and/or holding another corporate job full or part-time.

Answer 2

If you look at Business Professors at most top tier B-Schools they are working part time as consultants and making a lot of money. Some Deans of B-Schools even require this of their professors so that they are still tied into real world issues and economics.

When I think of the Professors I had in my MBA, to the best of my recollection I believe about 70-80% were doing consulting that was bringing in as much if not more than their State Salaries.

For you specific question of a great Marketer- why would they take a higher pressure job as CMO of a Fortune 500, be tied to a desk, and lose the interaction with students? Instead they can do consulting with 5 to 10 companies, get a much greater breadth of experience to tie into their lessons, and get to travel to Australia, Asia, Europe and other parts of our country all on the client's dime. And that doesn't include the "chaperoning" of the students on overseas trips to learn about business in foreign economies more in depth.

Answer 3

This is a perfectly legitimate question with a legitimate answer.

Not all college professors graduate with their Master's or Ph.D. and go straight into academia. Conversely, lots of them actually had lucrative careers before they became professors. One of my forensics professors was a world-renowned expert that testified in many cases, investigated many crimes, held patents for inventions, and was a certified facial reconstructionist that made some pretty cool 3-D models. All of my psychology professors were either currently in private practice making big bucks or retired from private practice and then taught. My personal friend holds an MBA and works at Chase as a small business specialist. He teaches a business course on the side at a local university.

It is true that sometimes professors graduate with their Ph.D. and go straight into academia. This is mainly because a Ph.D. is a research degree that also requires an internship/externship in a specific area of expertise. A research degree is a lot different from a B.A./B.S. where you get spoonfed information. These "doctors" choose a career in teaching because that's what they enjoy and want to do and they are very knowledgeable in their subject area. But trust me, a vast majority of professors I've met have real-world experience in a professional job setting - especially the ones with Master's degrees.

Being a professor is a legitimate job. Some subjects, such as English, hardly require any real-world experience to be taught well. If you know how to read and write well, you can teach others how to read & write. Academic subjects are often taught from theoretical standpoints rather than practical standpoints. But both standpoints are legitimate and have their purpose. We can't be a world full of practitioners exclusively or full or thinkers exclusively.

Anyway, hope this helped.

Answer 4

Many professors practice on the side. Or, they made so much money, they can afford to stop working and just teach.

However, yes, there are professors who are basically career students. That's because many majors don't lead to a path of riches. Teaching is often one of the best job opportunities in that area.

Answer 5

My Economics professor was a Banker, my Psychology professor had his private practice going well. My History Professor was a Judge.

Some people just want to pass on their knowledge and are good at doing so. Most professors have to continue work in their area so the college knows they are current on their knowledge.

Answer 6

I think that's a great question. Some of them enjoy teaching so they don't pursue a higher salary or industry work - many of them are research addicts, you really have to be to get a Ph.D. Some of them really can't do, so they teach. Many do part-time consulting in the real-world with their own business on the side. Some used to work in private industry but didn't like the stress and compromises they needed to make. Some of them have special interests in niches that don't have a practical application - like the philosophy of the Aztecs or something like that.

Answer 7

1. Money isn't everything.
2. Often "those who can't do" can't teach well either.
3. If you think I'm working less than full time as a professor, you are welcome to follow me around for a week. If you are still standing at the end of it, then we'll talk.

Answer 8

I think that is very unfair. Many professors are dedicated people who just want to help ungrateful and untrainable people learn something they don't want to learn..

I tried teaching at the College Level once and gave it up after the first semester because it was so frustrating trying to push a string or herd cats... Students seem to think they can learn by osmosis rather than effort and I got tired of the "Hey dude... learn me somethin'

Don't trash dedicated teachers until you have done it yourself.

Answer 9

$2 hundred.00 as we talk is like having $20.00 contained in the 50s & 60s even contained in the early 70s you would possibly want to purchase a sparkling p/u for below $4000.00 Jackie M. your fortunate my son replaced into paying $2,one hundred.00 a month for a 2 mattress room homestead, in Ca.

Answer 10

ask a professor