[N3WBI3]

The average U.S. salary for a full-time college professor is $51,000, but this can vary greatly, based on the geographic region, type of school, teaching field and experience. Through some simple research, you can become familiar with the salary ranges and benefits for professors in a given field and area.

According to a 2002-03 survey by the American Association of University Professors, salaries for full-time faculty averaged $64,455. By rank, the average was $86,437 for professors, $61,732 for associate professors, $51,545 for assistant professors, $37,737 for instructors, and $43,914 for lecturers.

The middle 50 percent of computer systems software engineers earned between $58,500 and $91,160 in 2002. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $45,890, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $111,600.

[KwasiOwusu]

"The middle 50 percent of computer systems software engineers earned between $58,500 and $91,160 in 2002"

Sys admins are not system softear engineers.
I am sure you know that already.

Plus even by your own figures, a full university professor (which this guy is) at average $86,437 per year is still making more than the verage systems software engineer, even if we use software engineer as the criterion.