As for salary, that depends on the institution and what type it is. Research institutions pay the most and ironically you will be teaching the least there as research is foremost your primary task. Generally, humanities professors don’t get paid a whole lot compared to other areas but an assistant professorship would probably start around mid 60s and rise rapidly as you gain the ranks. It is very difficult to obtain a professorship at a research level institution however. You’ll need to be a true scholar by publishing prolifically.

At community colleges you will be paid a lot less but teaching is paramount; look at high 40s/low 50s starting pay, with gradual but not a whole lot of rise in pay. Easier entry as one does not need as much of an all-star scholastic record, but increasingly more difficult as the amount of unemployed Ph.D applicants rises.

A teaching degree is generally four years, although some colleges have a 5-year program. To teach on the college level, you have to have at least a master’s degree; however, at my university, all tenure-track positions must be filled by people who have a Ph.D or an EdD.

Hope that helps!

PS I work harder now than I ever did in the classroom, and I thought I worked pretty hard. I might have flexible hours but I have the pressure of research on top of a full teaching load.