Q: Several days ago, you published information on faculty salaries at the University of Georgia. Could you talk more about faculty salaries in colleges and universities in the state, including perhaps a range of ranks (from professor to lecturer) and institutions (Valdosta State University, Kennesaw State University, North Georgia College & State University, etc.)?

— Beth Daniell, Acworth

A: Full professors at Georgia Tech are the highest paid in the state, with an average salary of $141,300, according to a yearly survey by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). The 2011-12 survey, which included 1,251 colleges, was released in April. Georgia State is second at $122,100, followed by UGA ($107,800) and Morehouse College ($105,900). On average, a full professor at Mercer University makes $87,100, one at Kennesaw State makes $84,100, one at North Georgia makes $74,400, one at Valdosta State makes $72,700 and one at Albany State University makes $71,000. The state's lowest average salary for a full professor was $52,500 at Toccoa Falls College.

Average salaries for other positions include:

Georgia Tech: $94,600 (associate professor); $86,800 (assistant professor); no listed salary average for instructors

Mercer: $67,300; $60,500; $50,400 (instructor)

Kennesaw State: $67,700; $57,000; $43,900

North Georgia: $64,600; $51,300; $44,800

Valdosta State: $60,300; $53,300; $43,000

Albany State: $59,200; $51,600; $46,100

Toccoa Falls: $49,000; $41,700; no listed salary average for instructors

Nationally, full professors make an average of $113,176, associate professors make $78,565, assistant professors make $66,564 and instructors make $47,847, the survey found, according to the AAUP.

Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We'll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).

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