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The differences between academic instructors and lead instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead instructor has an average salary of $50,221, which is higher than the $48,371 average annual salary of an academic instructor.
The top three skills for an academic instructor include mathematics, language arts and GED. The most important skills for a lead instructor are classroom management, curriculum development, and professional development.
| Academic Instructor | Lead Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,371 | $50,221 |
| Hourly rate | $23.26 | $24.14 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 51,190 | 37,712 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 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.
A lead instructor's responsibilities vary depending on the line of work or industry. Most of the time, a lead instructor must devise plans and strategies on educating students or trainees on a particular subject. Aside from providing various learning materials, one must also conduct different assessment activities ranging from oral, written, or practical tests and grade them accordingly. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain a healthy and safe environment for students, prioritizing everyone's interpersonal and academic progress throughout the school year or course.
Academic instructors and lead instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Instructor | Lead Instructor | |
| Average salary | $48,371 | $50,221 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $69,000 | Between $32,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Foster City, CA | Central Islip, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Kern Community College District |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between an academic instructor and a lead instructor in terms of educational background:
| Academic Instructor | Lead Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between academic instructors' and lead instructors' demographics:
| Academic Instructor | Lead Instructor | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.8% Female, 53.2% | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 8.5% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |