Assistant Professor Jobs in California

Assistant Professor jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in higher education, research universities, and community college systems across the state at every rank from visiting and tenure-track to clinical faculty. The deepest hiring markets are Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego, where institutions such as the University of California system, California State University system, and Stanford University maintain large and ongoing faculty searches. The most in-demand specialties include computer science, nursing and health sciences, education, and engineering. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles258+
Top employerUC San Diego
Top citySan Diego, CA
Cities hiring37
Work type65% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 258+ Assistant Professor jobs

Assistant Professor in Accounting
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Assistant Professor in Accounting
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California
Brand Marketing
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$128k - $135k/yr
Bachelor of Science
51-200

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Assistant Research Professor: Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice
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Added 2d ago
Assistant Research Professor: Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Higher Education
Research & Academia
Teaching & Instruction
$95k - $100k/yr
Doctoral degree
10,000+

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Assistant or Associate Professor - Anatomy
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Assistant or Associate Professor - Anatomy
TOURO UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA
Vallejo, California
Corporate Training
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching

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Assistant Professor, Nutrition (Full-Time, Tenure Track)
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Assistant Professor, Nutrition (Full-Time, Tenure Track)
Contra Costa Community College District
Martinez, California
Corporate Training
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching
Master's degree in chemistry
1,001-5,000

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Assistant Professor, Psychology
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Assistant Professor, Psychology
Contra Costa Community College District
Martinez, California
Corporate Training
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching
Master's degree in social work
1,001-5,000

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See All 258+ Assistant Professor Jobs in California

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Assistant Professor Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Marcos
20 jobs
Berkeley
19 jobs
Sacramento
15 jobs
Davis
12 jobs
Martinez
11 jobs
Orange
8 jobs
Long Beach
7 jobs

Assistant Professor Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • UC San Diego35
  • University of Southern California22
  • California State University19
  • University of California Berkeley19
  • UC Davis16

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education20
  • Non-Profit & Social Services5
  • Technology & Software3
  • Investment & Asset Management3
  • Science & Research1

What California Employers Look For

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

  • Earned doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., J.D., or equivalent terminal degree) in the relevant discipline
  • Evidence of scholarly research, publications, or creative work appropriate to rank and field
  • Demonstrated teaching effectiveness at the college or university level
  • Active or in-progress record of external grant funding or research productivity
  • Commitment to student success and equity-minded pedagogy consistent with California institution missions
  • Experience with or knowledge of California's diverse student populations and community college transfer pathways

Assistant Professor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a assistant professor in California?

Becoming an assistant professor in California requires a terminal degree in your field, typically a Ph.D. or equivalent, plus a competitive application including a research statement, teaching portfolio, and writing samples. California's public university systems, the University of California and California State University, post faculty openings through their respective HR portals and require evidence of scholarly activity. Community college positions may accept a master's degree plus professional experience, and applicants often pursue affiliate or lecturer roles to build a California teaching record before securing a tenure-track appointment.

Which companies hire assistant professors in California?

Companies currently hiring assistant professors in California include UC San Diego, University of Southern California, and California State University, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's scale across research universities, liberal arts colleges, and one of the largest community college systems in the nation means faculty openings appear throughout the year across a wide range of disciplines.

Which California cities have the most assistant professor jobs?

The California cities with the most assistant professor openings are San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Marcos. Los Angeles leads because of its density of research universities, medical schools, and community colleges, while the Bay Area's concentration of research institutions and technology-adjacent academic programs drives strong demand there, and San Diego's life sciences and defense research sectors anchor sustained faculty hiring.

Are there remote assistant professor jobs in California?

Yes, but they're limited. About 35% of assistant professor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the fundamentally in-person nature of most faculty roles. The parts of the role most likely to be conducted remotely are online course sections, certain research and writing responsibilities, and administrative service, while laboratory instruction, clinical supervision, and campus committee work remain on-site.

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

The most realistic entry path is securing a postdoctoral fellowship, lecturer position, or visiting assistant professor appointment at a California institution to build your teaching and research record locally. The University of California and California State University systems regularly hire lecturers and visiting faculty, which often leads to tenure-track consideration. Transitioning from industry roles in technology, healthcare, or engineering into clinical or practice-based faculty tracks is another well-established route, particularly at Cal Poly, UC San Diego, and CSU campuses with strong applied programs. Completing a California-based postdoc and publishing in peer-reviewed journals strengthens any application considerably.

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

You can find and apply to assistant professor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California faculty openings updated regularly. Search for roles that match your discipline, institution type, and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit. No sign-up is required to see the listings.

See All 258+ Assistant Professor Jobs in California

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

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