Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for adjunct biology instructors in the United States
Adjunct biology instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected adjunct biology instructor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for adjunct biology instructors are projected over the next decade.
Adjunct biology instructor salaries have increased 12% for adjunct biology instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,405 adjunct biology instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 38,331 active adjunct biology instructor job openings in the US.
The average adjunct biology instructor salary is $86,786.
Are adjunct biology instructor jobs in demand?
Adjunct biology instructor job and salary trends over time
Adjunct biology instructor jobs over time
Adjunct biology instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,405 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 10,156 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 10,470 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 10,209 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 9,843 | 0.00% |
Average adjunct biology instructor salary over time
Adjunct biology instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $86,786 | $41.72 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $84,454 | $40.60 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $83,694 | $40.24 | +5.5% |
| 2022 | $79,324 | $38.14 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $77,712 | $37.36 | +1.8% |
Adjunct biology instructor jobs by state
Most common states for adjunct biology instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 739,795 | 147 | 20% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 140 | 20% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 153 | 15% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,180 | 14% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 758 | 14% |
| 6 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 506 | 10% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 398 | 10% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 56 | 10% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 551 | 9% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 796 | 8% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 778 | 8% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 712 | 8% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 573 | 8% |
| 14 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 340 | 8% |
| 15 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 253 | 8% |
| 16 | Delaware | 961,939 | 73 | 8% |
| 17 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,333 | 7% |
| 18 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 485 | 7% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 91 | 7% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 79 | 7% |
Most common cities for adjunct biology instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moline | 1 | 2% | $63,551 |
| 2 | Alhambra | 1 | 1% | $126,767 |
| 3 | Nampa | 1 | 1% | $75,849 |
| 4 | Peoria | 1 | 1% | $63,941 |
| 5 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $61,103 |
| 6 | Saint Paul | 1 | 0% | $70,658 |
Adjunct Biology Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of adjunct biology instructor experts
Tiffin University
College of the Marshall Islands
Southern Connecticut State University
College of Charleston
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
What general advice would you give to an Adjunct Biology Instructor?
Dr. Stuart Inglis: During fall and spring terms when the majority of classes take place, these instructors will be occupied with lesson preparation, teaching lectures, and supervising laboratory sessions. There is also likely to be office hours and review sessions that would need to be overseen. The summer term might also offer the ability to teach additional courses. The instructor may also use the more open time to pay attention to other aspects of their position. They may be involved in certain administrative functions, such as sitting on university committees or directing the laboratory facilities they teach in. They may also use the time to perform research studies that they do not necessarily have time for during the regular school year.
What Adjunct Biology Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Stuart Inglis: Anatomy and Physiology is a unique field of study. While many feel apprehensive towards it, in particular when it involves dissection or physiology studies on animals, those who pursue it tend to be very passionate about the subject matter. As is the case for anyone who answers the call to teach, the satisfaction in educating the future generation is fulfilling. This is particularly so when working with kindred spirits who feel the same passion for the subject material. The dislikes would be the same as seen in teaching in any discipline; Interactions with apathetic and unappreciative students and pressures from administration to maintain a certain class average And received positive course evaluations.
What will help Adjunct Biology Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stuart Inglis: The field of anatomy and physiology is always in demand, as it is a critical component in the education of anyone pursuing a career in the medical field. Essentially every institution of higher learning has some sort of anatomy and physiology course that needs to be taught. There has also been a general trend over the past several years of insufficient numbers of qualified candidates to replace the large number of faculty that have been retiring. Students graduating with a masters or doctoral degree in the anatomical or physiological sciences have a very good chance of being hired into vacant faculty positions. For doctoral graduates that have a successful research program, having an additional background in teaching in anatomy and physiology makes them more marketable and desirable for faculty positions focused on research but still requiring a certain amount of teaching.
Dr. Stephanie Opfer
Associate Professor of English, Assistant Dean of the School of Creative and Media ArtsTiffin University
Visual And Performing Arts
What general advice would you give to an Adjunct Biology Instructor?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Because of the state of higher education in our country today, teaching in higher education can be a difficult field to break into. However, most colleges and universities still hire adjunct instructors (part-time instructors). Students shouldn't be afraid to teach as an adjunct for a while to get some experience and decide if teaching is for them.
What will help Adjunct Biology Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Unfortunately, teaching as an adjunct does not pay well. Students should keep their full-time jobs and teach part-time until they find a full-time job at a college or university. That part-time teaching provides them valuable experience and connections that make them more competitive candidates for full-time positions because they'd also be competing with candidates who have PhDs. So adjunct work is more of a long-term investment rather than an immediate return. Also, even full-time teaching jobs don't pay particularly well, so they'll really need to love teaching if they want to do it full-time. If they don't like teaching as an adjunct, they won't like doing it full-time.
What general advice would you give to an Adjunct Biology Instructor?
Alexander Velasquez: My general advice to any graduate beginning their career in their field is to continue to learn and be a student of your craft. Be open to learning new things because you never know how they will improve your skills and qualifications. For example, I am currently learning video editing. I never thought I would bother to learn video editing, but it makes me a more versatile instructor being able to give students the option of doing video projects, combining and editing them, and having a digital record of what students have learned in the classroom. And given the rise of online learning, it's important nowadays to be an effective instructor both in the traditional in-person format and within the digital landscape.
Dr. Richard Volkman
Professor of Philosophy, Chair, Department of Philosophy, Coordinator, Religious StudiesSouthern Connecticut State University
Department of Philosophy
What soft skills should all Adjunct Biology Instructors possess?
Dr. Richard Volkman: The "soft skills" would be those mentioned above and especially the ability to model the Philosophical Attitude in a way that students can relate to, with the good judgment to know what style of engagement is likely to be effective with a particular set of students. In philosophical research, the "hard skills" predominate, but the fluid interaction in the classroom that allows a conversation to blossom is at the foreground of effective teaching.
What experience really stands out on Adjunct Biology Instructor resumes?
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice: The experience that most stands out on resumés, to my mind, is definitely internships or anything where the applicant has had to show initiative and exercise independent thought.
What Adjunct Biology Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Suzanne Kemp Ph.D.: They need to stay engaged in some level of working with people with disabilities. If they do something that isn't relevant to the field, they won't be as marketable as a new graduate.