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Adjunct faculty member vs instructor

The differences between adjunct faculty members and instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an adjunct faculty member has an average salary of $60,817, which is higher than the $53,426 average annual salary of an instructor.

The top three skills for an adjunct faculty member include syllabus, curriculum development and powerpoint. The most important skills for an instructor are customer service, CPR, and course curriculum.

Adjunct faculty member vs instructor overview

Adjunct Faculty MemberInstructor
Yearly salary$60,817$53,426
Hourly rate$29.24$25.69
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs28,98139,273
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age4642
Years of experience4-

What does an adjunct faculty member do?

An adjunct faculty member teaches part-time at learning institutions, usually on a contractual basis. Although their duties depend on their position or area of expertise, it usually includes preparing lessons and coursework plans, administering examinations, producing learning materials, grading tests and quizzes, and assisting students as necessary. They also organize various activities meant to enhance the students' skills and abilities. Moreover, they may participate in different committees and work together with fellow educators in maintaining an effective and safe learning environment for everyone.

What does an instructor do?

Instructors are responsible for imparting knowledge to students. They are well-versed in different topics related to their area of teaching. They prepare lessons, create presentation materials and other collaterals, and present these to the students. They manage the classroom and ensure that students are attentive. Instructors are also responsible for creating ways to check the students' knowledge retention through schoolwork and examinations. They also evaluate their teaching style as well to further improve their skills for the next batch of students. Instructors should be patient, creative, and well-versed in classroom management.

Adjunct faculty member vs instructor salary

Adjunct faculty members and instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Adjunct Faculty MemberInstructor
Average salary$60,817$53,426
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $99,000Between $30,000 And $94,000
Highest paying CityHoboken, NJNew York, NY
Highest paying stateOhioConnecticut
Best paying companyNebraska Methodist Health SystemKern Community College District
Best paying industryStart-upGovernment

Differences between adjunct faculty member and instructor education

There are a few differences between an adjunct faculty member and an instructor in terms of educational background:

Adjunct Faculty MemberInstructor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of Pennsylvania

Adjunct faculty member vs instructor demographics

Here are the differences between adjunct faculty members' and instructors' demographics:

Adjunct Faculty MemberInstructor
Average age4642
Gender ratioMale, 44.9% Female, 55.1%Male, 51.2% Female, 48.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 9.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage16%11%

Differences between adjunct faculty member and instructor duties and responsibilities

Adjunct faculty member example responsibilities.

  • Lead outreach to community and statewide stakeholders in the PPCC entrepreneurship program.
  • Prepare course materials such as PowerPoint presentations, assessments and homework assignments.
  • Perform PowerPoint guide lectures and presentation during each meeting.
  • Analyze writings to initiate thematic, multicultural comprehension/interpretation of literature
  • Provide instruction integrating mathematics and manufacturing

Instructor example responsibilities.

  • Discipline kids when necessary, and manage lifeguarding duties during swimming portions of the camp.
  • Own and manage a small business as a CPR and first aid instructor and consultant for diverse clients.
  • Instruct all areas of massage therapy program including anatomy, physiology, pathology, contraindications and ethics.
  • Teach a broad range of ESL classes, such as pronunciation, grammar, and conversation classes.
  • Develop curricula for college-level philosophy and ethics courses with clear expectations and objectives in mind.
  • Plan and provide human anatomy and physiology course instruction and laboratory activities for students in the nursing program.
  • Show more

Adjunct faculty member vs instructor skills

Common adjunct faculty member skills
  • Syllabus, 14%
  • Curriculum Development, 9%
  • PowerPoint, 7%
  • English Language, 6%
  • Anatomy, 5%
  • Student Learning, 5%
Common instructor skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Course Curriculum, 8%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Classroom Management, 5%
  • Student Learning, 4%

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