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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Position overview
Position title: Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery FacultyApplication Window
Open date: September 16, 2026
Next review date: Sunday, Oct 18, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Thursday, Sep 16, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery within the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego and Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego are committed to academic excellence within the faculty, staff, and student body and are recruiting for Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Responsibilities will include patient care, teaching, and research at Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego and satellite locations.
The appropriate series and appointment at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level will be based on the candidate’s background and experience.
A link to full descriptions of each series is provided for your review:
HS Clinical Professor (APM-278)
Clinical X Professor (APM-275)
In-Residence Professor (APM-270)
Adjunct Professor (APM-280)
Appointments may require candidates to be self-funded.
If appointed to a title covered by the Health Sciences Compensation Plan, the appointee should be aware that there are limitations on outside professional activities, and clinical moonlighting is expressly prohibited. Additional information can be found here: Health Sciences Compensation Plan (APM-671)
Department: https://ortho.ucsd.edu/
Hospital: http://www.rchsd.org/
Qualifications
Candidates must have a DO, MD or equivalent, or an MD/PhD in health-related fields.
Candidates must have completed an ACGME-accredited orthopaedic surgery residency training program.
Candidates must be board-certified or board-eligible in Orthopaedic Surgery.
Candidates must have or be eligible for a California medical license or equivalent certification/permit as determined by the California Medical Board.
Candidates must have completed a fellowship program in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery by the time of the start of the appointment.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Misc / Additional (Optional)
- 3 required (contact information only)
Help contact: faz003@health.ucsd.edu
About UC San Diego
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
As a university employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all of its university-controlled properties.
The UC San Diego Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available online at: https://www.police.ucsd.edu/docs/annualclery.pdf. This report provides crime and fire statistics, as well as institutional policy statements & procedures. Contact the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4361 if you want to obtain paper copies of this report.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
Click for more information on Assembly Bill-810
Click for more information on Senate Bill-791
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH]
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination]
Job location
See All 117+ Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in California
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Find JobsAssistant Or Associate Professor Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Assistant Or Associate Professor Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- UC San Diego72

- University of Southern California11

- UC San Francisco Academic7

- UC Davis6

- 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
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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