tenured professor. Statistically

here it refers to https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidmaslach_i-used-to-earn-below-the-poverty-line-as-activity-7336731766705053697-gLnr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAX8zxoBnYZdJmkhSR5MYhxTOiQkW_U7MGM

 

How much is being wealthy as he said, "Today, I’m a tenured professor. Statistically, we’re wealthy."

ChatGPT said:

Thank you for the reference. In David Maslach’s LinkedIn post, when he says:

“Today, I’m a tenured professor. Statistically, we’re wealthy.”

he’s referring to income and socioeconomic status benchmarks, likely in comparison to national or global data. Let’s unpack what “statistically, we’re wealthy” means in this context:

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1. U.S. Perspective (National Stats)

According to recent U.S. Census and Pew Research data:

• The median household income in the U.S. (2023): ~$75,000

• Tenured professors typically earn:

  • Associate Professors: ~$90,000–$100,000

  • Full Professors: $120,000–$180,000 or more at research universities
    Thus, professors often fall into the top 20% of earners in the U.S., depending on household income and location.

So “statistically wealthy” likely means:
Top 20% or better in income percentile rankings within the U.S.

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2. Global Perspective

Globally:

• Earning over $60,000 USD/year places someone in the top 1% of income worldwide.

From a global lens, most tenured professors are ultra-wealthy by comparison.

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What Maslach is emphasizing:

He contrasts former poverty (when he lived below the poverty line) with his current professional stability, using “statistically” to mean income percentile—not luxury, excess, or emotional fulfillment.

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Suggested phrasing for your use:

“Statistically, I’m wealthy. As a tenured professor, my income puts me well above the national median—and far beyond the global average. But wealth, I’ve learned, is more than a line on a chart.”