The Truth About Being a Professor (Salary, Tenure, Work-Life Balance AMA)

What is it really like to be a professor? In this Academia AMA, I answer questions from a PhD student about the realities of academic life — not the brochure version. We talk honestly about: • How I accidentally became a professor • Industry vs academia tradeoffs • Salary expectations (real numbers) • Tenure, grants, and job security • Work–life balance with a family • Travel, sabbaticals, and flexibility • Starting companies while faculty • Politics in academia • Whether tenure still makes sense • And whether I’m actually happy doing this job If you’re considering grad school, a postdoc, or a faculty career — this is the candid version I wish someone had given me. Drop your questions in the comments and I’ll include them in the next AMA. ⏱ Timestamps (short labels) 00:00 Intro & why this AMA 00:39 When I decided to be a professor 03:29 Industry vs academia tradeoffs 04:50 Spouse & family perspective 07:52 Professor salary reality 12:28 Summer pay & sabbaticals 16:21 Work–life balance truth 19:47 Hobbies, travel & making time 23:14 Delegation & managing students 24:46 What my weekly calendar looks like 27:35 Pre-tenure vs now workload 28:48 Boundaries & evenings/weekends 29:58 Sleep & daily family time 32:20 Early career stress & learning curve 36:09 Travel perks (and downsides) 38:52 Grant rejection reality 41:11 Hidden benefits of academia 43:05 Academic politics & conflict 45:28 Thoughts on tenure today 49:34 Consulting & entrepreneurship 54:08 Am I actually happy?