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The average salary for adjunct faculty in the United States stands at $83,069 annually or about $40 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, the institution's funding, and individual qualifications. For example, adjunct faculty in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries compared to those in other regions.
Understanding how adjunct faculty salaries differ by state can help you identify the best opportunities. States such as California, New York, and Texas consistently rank among the highest paying regions for adjunct faculty, reflecting the demand for educators in higher education.
Experience level also plays a crucial role in determining salary. Adjunct faculty with advanced degrees or significant teaching experience often command higher salaries. Additionally, specialized fields such as STEM or graduate-level courses may offer competitive compensation.
As an adjunct faculty member, opportunities for growth and higher pay may arise through networking within academic circles or pursuing full-time positions with better benefits. Understanding the salary landscape is essential for anyone looking to advance their academic career.
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The average adjunct faculty salary in California, New York, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average adjunct faculty salary states are Colorado, Iowa, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $108,928 | $52.37 |
| 2 | Vermont | $104,564 | $50.27 |
| 3 | California | $117,732 | $56.60 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $92,495 | $44.47 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $106,669 | $51.28 |
| 6 | Oregon | $87,417 | $42.03 |
| 7 | Alaska | $84,109 | $40.44 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $89,269 | $42.92 |
| 9 | Maine | $93,622 | $45.01 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $87,557 | $42.09 |
| 11 | Washington | $94,034 | $45.21 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $81,003 | $38.94 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $77,853 | $37.43 |
| 14 | Florida | $88,474 | $42.54 |
| 15 | Montana | $79,314 | $38.13 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $82,989 | $39.90 |
| 17 | Michigan | $79,239 | $38.10 |
| 18 | Utah | $80,317 | $38.61 |
| 19 | Virginia | $76,510 | $36.78 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $84,910 | $40.82 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $84,603 | $40.67 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $75,858 | $36.47 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $79,775 | $38.35 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $69,923 | $33.62 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $80,110 | $38.51 |
| 26 | Nevada | $78,539 | $37.76 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $72,899 | $35.05 |
| 28 | Ohio | $70,874 | $34.07 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $75,678 | $36.38 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $66,383 | $31.91 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $86,882 | $41.77 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $66,864 | $32.15 |
| 33 | Arizona | $73,392 | $35.28 |
| 34 | Texas | $68,060 | $32.72 |
| 35 | Indiana | $65,267 | $31.38 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $71,265 | $34.26 |
| 37 | Georgia | $68,978 | $33.16 |
| 38 | Colorado | $62,412 | $30.01 |
| 39 | Missouri | $68,837 | $33.09 |
| 40 | Delaware | $73,283 | $35.23 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $64,465 | $30.99 |
| 42 | Maryland | $64,769 | $31.14 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $62,992 | $30.28 |
| 44 | Idaho | $69,425 | $33.38 |
| 45 | Alabama | $63,068 | $30.32 |
| 46 | Iowa | $60,885 | $29.27 |
| 47 | Kansas | $62,844 | $30.21 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $58,741 | $28.24 |
| 49 | Illinois | $58,401 | $28.08 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $59,116 | $28.42 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $53,438 | $25.69 |
The highest-paying cities for adjunct faculties are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Brockton, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $129,611 | $62.31 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $110,542 | $53.15 |
| 3 | Brockton, MA | $108,012 | $51.93 |
| 4 | Jacksonville, NC | $96,019 | $46.16 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $91,957 | $44.21 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $86,709 | $41.69 |
| 7 | Nashua, NH | $84,979 | $40.86 |
| 8 | Galloway, NJ | $82,801 | $39.81 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $81,717 | $39.29 |
| 10 | Fairbanks, AK | $80,007 | $38.46 |
| 11 | Saint Paul, MN | $79,908 | $38.42 |
| 12 | Virginia Beach, VA | $77,141 | $37.09 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $75,778 | $36.43 |
| 14 | Prescott, AZ | $74,588 | $35.86 |
| 15 | Fremont, NE | $73,385 | $35.28 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $70,134 | $33.72 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $70,084 | $33.69 |
| 18 | Richmond, KY | $67,671 | $32.53 |
| 19 | Hattiesburg, MS | $67,550 | $32.48 |
| 20 | Columbus, GA | $67,460 | $32.43 |
Adjunct Faculties are the most in-demand in these five cities:
An adjunct faculty's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $152,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $152,000 | $12,667 | $73 |
| 75th Percentile | $114,000 | $9,500 | $55 |
| Average | $83,069 | $6,922 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
The highest paying types of adjunct faculties are visiting professor, associate professor, and faculty member.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visiting Professor | $116,217 | $9,685 | $55.87 | 27,139 |
| College Instructor | $50,584 | $4,215 | $24.32 | 41,053 |
| ESL Instructor | $53,226 | $4,436 | $25.59 | 26,173 |
| Social Studies Teacher | $49,725 | $4,144 | $23.91 | 94,087 |
| High School Teacher | $52,441 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 83,554 |
| Language Instructor | $57,946 | $4,829 | $27.86 | 45,062 |
Top companies hiring adjunct faculties now:
Adjunct faculty salaries at Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego and AdventHealth are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average adjunct faculty salary at companies like UnityPoint Health and Geisinger Medical Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $212,991 | $102.40 |
| 2 | AdventHealth | $211,527 | $101.70 |
| 3 | UnityPoint Health | $197,655 | $95.03 |
| 4 | Geisinger Medical Center | $190,792 | $91.73 |
| 5 | Central Maine Healthcare | $187,758 | $90.27 |
| 6 | Lancaster General Health | $181,059 | $87.05 |
| 7 | Roseman University | $172,862 | $83.11 |
| 8 | Arnot Health | $168,209 | $80.87 |
| 9 | Ohlone College | $165,503 | $79.57 |
| 10 | Bon Secours Community Hospital | $161,454 | $77.62 |
| 11 | Sotheby's Institute of Art | $156,189 | $75.09 |
| 12 | Labouré College | $155,753 | $74.88 |
| 13 | The Art Institute of Chicago | $152,967 | $73.54 |
| 14 | BJC HealthCare | $151,426 | $72.80 |
| 15 | New York University | $150,295 | $72.26 |
| 16 | Franklin University | $149,940 | $72.09 |
| 17 | Johns Hopkins University | $145,973 | $70.18 |
| 18 | Community College of Rhode Island | $140,857 | $67.72 |
| 19 | Massasoit Community College | $139,783 | $67.20 |
| 20 | Commonwealth | $135,737 | $65.26 |
The average adjunct faculty salary has risen by $10,200 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average adjunct faculty earned $72,869 annually, but today, they earn $83,069 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for adjunct faculties over the last decade.
Compare adjunct faculty salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare adjunct faculty salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,100 | $39.94 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $81,600 | $39.22 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $79,300 | $38.14 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $77,100 | $37.05 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $75,700 | $36.38 | +2.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westcliff University | Adjunct Faculty-Mathematics | Irvine, CA | 06/30/2025 | $52,175 |
| Montana Technological University | Adjunct Faculty for AY 26 (Fall '25, Spring '26 & Summer '26) | Butte-Silver Bow, MT | 06/30/2025 | $12,689 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Adjunct Faculty-Biology-Remote | WFH | Claremont, NH | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Chemistry, Adjunct Faculty-Remote | WFH | Hartford, CT | 06/29/2025 | $40,000 |
| Hofstra University | Adjunct Faculty, Writing Studies | Hempstead, NY | 06/28/2025 | $76,071 |
| Trinity Washington University | NHP-Clinical Adjunct Faculty | Washington, DC | 06/28/2025 | $49,560 |
| Northwestern Health Sciences University | Adjunct Faculty, Chiropractic Clinic Supervisor | Minneapolis, MN | 06/28/2025 | $81,393 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | On-Campus Adjunct-Digital Video Production | Manchester, NH | 06/28/2025 | $146,090 |
| Community College of Rhode Island | Adjunct Faculty, Dental Hygiene (Future Opportunities) | Rhode Island | 06/28/2025 | $202,648 |
| Northeast College of Health Sciences | Adjunct Faculty-Technique Courses (Spinal A | Levittown, NY | 06/27/2025 | $114,785 |
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