Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in California

Assistant Or Associate Professor jobs in California are concentrated in higher education, research universities, and community colleges, with openings at every level from tenure-track assistant positions to associate appointments nearing full tenure. The Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego metros drive the most consistent hiring, anchored by institutions like the University of California system, California State University, and Stanford University. Demand is strongest in STEM fields, health sciences, and business, reflecting California's research economy and graduate enrollment growth. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles117+
Top employerUC San Diego
Top citySan Diego, CA
Cities hiring14
Work type50% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 117+ Assistant Or Associate Professor jobs

UC San Diego
Assistant, Associate or Full Professor (HS Clin, Clin X, In-Residence, Adjunct) Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty
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UC San Diego
Added 1d ago
Assistant, Associate or Full Professor (HS Clin, Clin X, In-Residence, Adjunct) Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty
UC San Diego
San Diego, California
Higher Education
Research & Academia
Teaching & Instruction
$172k - $500k/yr
10,000+

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Chapman University
Writing Center Director and Associate or Full Professor of English, Tenured, Fall 2027
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Chapman University
Added 2d ago
Writing Center Director and Associate or Full Professor of English, Tenured, Fall 2027
Chapman University
Orange, California
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Educational Administration
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
$110k - $160k/yr
Doctoral degree in English
1,001-5,000

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UC San Diego
Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor (In-Residence, Adjunct) Otolaryngology Research
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UC San Diego
Added 3d ago
Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor (In-Residence, Adjunct) Otolaryngology Research
UC San Diego
San Diego, California
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Support
Laboratory Science
$107k - $650k/yr
Doctoral degree in neuroscience
10,000+

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UC Davis
NON-INVASIVE CARDIOLOGIST - Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Clinical X or Health Sciences Clinical Professor Series
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UC Davis
Added 3d ago
NON-INVASIVE CARDIOLOGIST - Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Clinical X or Health Sciences Clinical Professor Series
UC Davis
Sacramento, California
Healthcare Administration
Physicians
Surgeons
$350k - $466k/yr
10,000+

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University of California Berkeley
Assistant or Associate Professor - Mediterranean and its Hinterlands, 500-1500 CE - Department of History
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University of California Berkeley
Added 6d ago
Assistant or Associate Professor - Mediterranean and its Hinterlands, 500-1500 CE - Department of History
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Corporate Training
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching
$84k - $155k/yr
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
10,000+

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Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
15 jobs
San Francisco
9 jobs
Sacramento
5 jobs
Berkeley
3 jobs
Irvine
2 jobs
Orange
2 jobs
Turlock
2 jobs
Thousand Oaks
2 jobs

Assistant Or Associate Professor Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • UC San Diego
    UC San Diego72
  • University of Southern California
    University of Southern California11
  • UC San Francisco Academic
    UC San Francisco Academic7
  • UC Davis
    UC Davis6
  • University of California Los Angeles
    University of California Los Angeles5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Technology & Software
  • Investment & Asset Management

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in assistant or associate professor jobs across California.

  • Earned doctoral degree or terminal degree in the relevant academic discipline required
  • Active research agenda with a record of peer-reviewed publications or creative work
  • Prior university teaching experience, including course design and student assessment
  • Demonstrated ability to secure or contribute to extramural grant funding
  • Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in teaching and departmental service
  • Evidence of collegiality and readiness to contribute to faculty governance

Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a assistant or associate professor in California?

Becoming an assistant or associate professor in California typically requires completing a doctoral or terminal degree from an accredited institution in your discipline. California's public university systems, including the University of California and California State University, require candidates to apply through official faculty recruitment postings, often reviewed by search committees. Demonstrated teaching effectiveness, an active research or creative agenda, and readiness to fulfill service obligations are the core criteria evaluated during hiring.

Which companies hire assistant or associate professors in California?

Companies currently hiring assistant or associate professors in California include UC San Diego, University of Southern California, and UC San Francisco Academic, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's high concentration of research universities, private colleges, and community college districts means faculty openings appear statewide year-round across disciplines.

Which California cities have the most assistant or associate professor jobs?

San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco consistently post the most assistant or associate professor openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its density of research universities, private colleges, and community colleges, while the San Francisco Bay Area reflects demand tied to STEM and professional programs at institutions anchored there, and San Diego's openings track closely with its research university and health sciences presence.

Are there remote assistant or associate professor jobs in California?

Yes, but they are relatively uncommon. About 50% of assistant or associate professor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that most faculty roles require in-person instruction, lab supervision, and committee participation. The portions of the role most likely to be conducted remotely are online course sections, research writing, and committee work where institutions have adopted hybrid models.

How can I get hired as a assistant or associate professor in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a postdoctoral fellowship or visiting assistant professor appointment, both of which are widely available at University of California and California State University campuses and serve as primary pipelines into tenure-track positions. Lecturers and adjunct instructors at California community colleges often transition into full-time associate faculty roles after demonstrating teaching effectiveness. Completing a discipline-specific certificate or building a portfolio of peer-reviewed publications strengthens applications considerably for candidates without a full-time faculty record.

Where can I find and apply to assistant or associate professor jobs in California?

You can find and apply to assistant or associate professor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across institutions and disciplines. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the postings that match.

See All 117+ Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in California

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