How to hire an adjunct lecturer

How to hire an adjunct lecturer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step adjunct lecturer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an adjunct lecturer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new adjunct lecturer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an adjunct lecturer do?

Post an adjunct lecturer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your adjunct lecturer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an adjunct lecturer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect adjunct lecturer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of adjunct lecturers.

   Type of Adjunct Lecturer	Description	Hourly rate
   Adjunct Lecturer	An Adjunct Lecturer is responsible for teaching college classes. They prepare course guides, teach content that matches courses standards, and assist students with inquiries outside of class.	$20-71
   Faculty	A faculty member is a professional whose primary responsibility is to provide teaching and research to students in colleges and universities. Faculties must work with colleagues to design a curriculum to keep up with the changes in the discipline... Show more	$20-73
   Math Teacher	A math teacher is responsible for instilling analytical and statistical knowledge to the learners. The duties of a math teacher include the development of a student's problem-solving skills, practical application of formulas and logical reasoning, utilization of visual materials and other learning equipment for better comprehension, and evaluation of the students' learning progress by conducting series of tests and activities... Show more	$17-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • C++
   • Undergraduate Courses
   • Syllabus
   • Rehabilitation
   • Mathematics
   • Course Syllabus
   • Student Performance
   • Literature
   • Class Discussions
   • Course Curriculum
   • Course Materials
   • Economics
   • Sociology
   • Student Learning

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop the course syllabus to achieve personal and departmental proficiency and performance goals.
   • Instruct respiratory therapy and medical assistant students on human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and the pathological basis of diseases.
   • Prepare lesson plans for freshman seminar course.
   • Teach pure and apply mathematics to engineering students.
   • Conduct the student teaching seminar for prospective teaching candidates.
   • Instruct practical sessions and labs for courses in human physiology and environmental chemistry.

   More adjunct lecturer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your adjunct lecturer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An adjunct lecturer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, adjunct lecturers' average salary in wyoming is 71% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level adjunct lecturers 72% less than senior-level adjunct lecturers.
   • Certifications. An adjunct lecturer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an adjunct lecturer's salary.

   Average adjunct lecturer salary

   $79,657yearly

   $38.30 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level adjunct lecturer salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average adjunct lecturer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$133,842	$64
   2	New Jersey	$114,494	$55
   3	California	$106,940	$51
   4	District of Columbia	$96,092	$46
   5	Massachusetts	$91,406	$44
   6	Rhode Island	$90,150	$43
   7	Pennsylvania	$82,856	$40
   8	Maryland	$79,188	$38
   9	Michigan	$78,559	$38
   10	Ohio	$78,051	$38
   11	Louisiana	$70,701	$34
   12	North Carolina	$68,437	$33
   13	Wisconsin	$64,460	$31
   14	Idaho	$63,881	$31
   15	Illinois	$62,014	$30
   16	Arizona	$61,220	$29
   17	Indiana	$60,110	$29
   18	Tennessee	$57,931	$28
   19	Iowa	$56,940	$27
   20	Texas	$51,005	$25

   Average adjunct lecturer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Johns Hopkins University	$197,498	$94.95	94
   2	Queen's College	$162,426	$78.09
   3	Tulane University	$137,605	$66.16	93
   4	The City University of New York	$136,126	$65.45	173
   5	Rutgers University	$127,631	$61.36	402
   6	University of Detroit Mercy	$112,021	$53.86	6
   7	New York University	$108,926	$52.37	30
   8	The Catholic University of America	$102,263	$49.16	3
   9	Kent State University	$101,353	$48.73	16
   10	Santa Clara University	$100,785	$48.45	63
   11	University of Michigan	$98,978	$47.59	65
   12	Columbia University in the City of New York	$97,637	$46.94	99
   13	Frostburg State University	$95,804	$46.06	8
   14	New Jersey Institute of Technology	$94,261	$45.32	17
   15	University of Iowa Center for Advancement	$92,689	$44.56
   16	University at Albany	$92,095	$44.28	19
   17	Northeastern Illinois University	$90,606	$43.56
   18	Northwestern University	$89,540	$43.05	19
   19	Chicago State University	$85,434	$41.07	2
   20	Florida International University	$84,513	$40.63

4. Writing an adjunct lecturer job description

   An adjunct lecturer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an adjunct lecturer job description:

   Adjunct lecturer job description example

   The Department of Psychology at Regis College is seeking an Adjunct Lecturer for the spring 2023 semester for a class on Human Development. This course entails consideration of human development from infancy through old age. The emphasis will be on cognitive, emotional, and social development, with attention to implications for nursing. It is a 15-week course that meets twice a week for 1 hour and 15 minutes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 to 12:15. Class materials will be provided. Class begins on January 17, 2023 and runs through May 2, 2023.
   This course section is taught in person on the Weston, MA campus.
   
   Lecture: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:00 to 12:15 pm, and possible additional times to be determined.
   
   Essential Functions:
   
   Teach PS233 (lecture) as a synchronous, in-person course and engage with all responsibilities associated with teaching the section: grading, office hours, student engagement, alignment with other course sections, academic assessment.
   
   Requirements:
   
   An earned MA or PHD in Psychology
   Demonstrated evidence of prior teaching experience at the undergraduate level
   Commitment to creating an inclusive classroom learning environment in keeping with the University's commitment to inclusive excellence in a diverse educational community.
   Demonstrated ability to collaborate with other Psychology faculty to ensure consistency across class sections.
   Demonstrated familiarity with academic assessment.
   Familiarity with the learning management system Moodle is preferred, but not required.
   
   Working Conditions/Physcial Demands:
   
   Normal office environment, not subject to extremes in noise, odors, etc.
   
   The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job. The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.
   
   Protecting the Regis Community
   
   At Regis the safety of our campus community is our highest priority. We invite all applicants to review our health and safety protocols at our COVID-19 Updates page. The most powerful measure we can take is vaccination, and all campus community members must be fully vaccinated and have received a booster against COVID-19, with the exception of certain medical and religious exemptions. New employees without an approved medical or religious exemption are required to have their first vaccine dose by their date of hire. And all new employees will join the campus community in using the CoVerified app to upload vaccine information, report symptoms, and schedule regular campus COVID tests. We're in this together!
   
   External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.
   
   In employment, as in education, Regis College is committed to equal opportunity and affirmative action. Regis does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran's status, membership in uniformed services or any other protected status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find adjunct lecturers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any adjunct lecturers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level adjunct lecturers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your adjunct lecturer job on Zippia to find and recruit adjunct lecturer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit adjunct lecturers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new adjunct lecturer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the adjunct lecturer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new adjunct lecturer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an adjunct lecturer?