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Adjunct instructor vs online instructor

The differences between adjunct instructors and online instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an adjunct instructor has an average salary of $52,030, which is higher than the $45,114 average annual salary of an online instructor.

The top three skills for an adjunct instructor include student learning, syllabus and student performance. The most important skills for an online instructor are skype, math, and zoom.

Adjunct instructor vs online instructor overview

Adjunct InstructorOnline Instructor
Yearly salary$52,030$45,114
Hourly rate$25.01$21.69
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs40,63337,219
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does an adjunct instructor do?

An adjunct instructor is a faculty member responsible for teaching an area of expertise within a specific contract period. The duties of an adjunct instructor are almost identical as a regular instructor, only that the work benefits are limited. These duties include preparing comprehensive lesson plans, monitoring the students' learning progress, and evaluating their knowledge by conducting tests and activities. An adjunct instructor must have an extensive comprehension of the learning curriculum to provide lectures accordingly.

What does an online instructor do?

An Online Instructor teaches remote post-secondary classes through the use of email, discussion pages, and video. They develop a curriculum based on the best knowledge in the field.

Adjunct instructor vs online instructor salary

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

Adjunct InstructorOnline Instructor
Average salary$52,030$45,114
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $83,000Between $32,000 And $61,000
Highest paying CityBakersfield, CAAlbany, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaVermont
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictNew York University
Best paying industryEducationManufacturing

Differences between adjunct instructor and online instructor education

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

Adjunct InstructorOnline Instructor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Adjunct instructor vs online instructor demographics

Here are the differences between adjunct instructors' and online instructors' demographics:

Adjunct InstructorOnline Instructor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 45.2% Female, 54.8%Male, 33.5% Female, 66.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 8.1% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between adjunct instructor and online instructor duties and responsibilities

Adjunct instructor example responsibilities.

  • Utilize blackboard management system to encourage online discussions and manage grades.
  • Develop syllabus, PowerPoint presentations on the disease model of alcoholism, physiology and pharmacology of addictive drugs and introduction to counseling
  • Revise and update syllabus with contemporary psychology, economics, and sociology research.
  • Experience with blackboard online software, facilitate on line instruction and assessments, utilize advanced technologies for presentations.
  • Prepare and deliver brief lectures to undergraduate students on topics such as mammalian physiology, reproduction, genetics, etc.
  • Modele positive work ethics, punctuality and professionalism.
  • Show more

Online instructor example responsibilities.

  • Utilize blackboard management system to encourage online discussions and manage grades.
  • Prepare and deliver instruction to students in topics such as literature, grammar, and writing.
  • Develop course materials such as course calendar, syllabus, handouts, and additional resources for students.
  • Develop rubric syllabus, and introduction materials.
  • Serve as theory instructor for medical-surgical nursing and pharmacology for junior students and leadership and management nursing for senior students.
  • Collaborate with faculty to provide input for student IEP's and PPT meetings.
  • Show more

Adjunct instructor vs online instructor skills

Common adjunct instructor skills
  • Student Learning, 10%
  • Syllabus, 7%
  • Student Performance, 5%
  • Professional Development, 5%
  • Philosophy, 5%
  • Course Curriculum, 4%
Common online instructor skills
  • Skype, 14%
  • Math, 13%
  • Zoom, 12%
  • Learning Objectives, 10%
  • K-12, 7%
  • Mathematics, 6%

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