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The differences between academic instructors and adult education instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an academic instructor and an adult education instructor. Additionally, an academic instructor has an average salary of $48,371, which is higher than the $45,926 average annual salary of an adult education instructor.
The top three skills for an academic instructor include mathematics, language arts and GED. The most important skills for an adult education instructor are math, professional development, and social studies.
| Academic Instructor | Adult Education Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,371 | $45,926 |
| Hourly rate | $23.26 | $22.08 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 51,190 | 43,991 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An academic instructor is responsible for all aspects of instruction and the students' learning experience. You will plan, prepare, and deliver lessons to your students and teach according to a student's educational needs, achievements, and abilities. In addition, you are expected to assess, record, and report the behavior, attainment, development, and progress of students. Other duties include promoting a student's well-being and progress in a certain course, guiding and advising students on social and educational matters, and ensuring to maintain high standards of teaching practice.
Adult education instructors are teachers in continuing and adult education who are working in various settings. The instructors teach adult students a range of courses including high school equivalency, math, literacy, and art. They teach English as a secondary language to students as well as cooking, health, and technology. It is their responsibility to instruct adults in preparatory and remedial education classes. Their job may or may not be performed in a traditional educational institution.
Academic instructors and adult education instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Instructor | Adult Education Instructor | |
| Average salary | $48,371 | $45,926 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $69,000 | Between $31,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Foster City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between an academic instructor and an adult education instructor in terms of educational background:
| Academic Instructor | Adult Education Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between academic instructors' and adult education instructors' demographics:
| Academic Instructor | Adult Education Instructor | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.8% Female, 53.2% | Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 6.9% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |