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The average salary for an Adjunct Lecturer in the United States is approximately $79,657 per year, translating to about $38 per hour. This salary can vary based on several factors, including experience, location, and the institution's type. For example, adjunct lecturers in urban areas often command higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for educational services.
Different states offer varying compensation levels for adjunct lecturers. States like California and New York are among the highest-paying, reflecting their robust educational systems and high living costs. Conversely, states with lower costs of living may offer lower salaries.
Adjunct lecturers typically work part-time at colleges and universities, allowing for flexible schedules and the opportunity to teach multiple courses across different institutions. As higher education evolves, the demand for qualified adjunct lecturers continues to grow, providing ample opportunities for those interested in academia.
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The average adjunct lecturer salary in New York, New Jersey, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average adjunct lecturer salary states are Colorado, Mississippi, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $124,720 | $59.96 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $110,005 | $52.89 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $94,700 | $45.53 |
| 4 | Vermont | $85,002 | $40.87 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $89,479 | $43.02 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $81,329 | $39.10 |
| 7 | Oregon | $80,338 | $38.62 |
| 8 | California | $99,391 | $47.78 |
| 9 | Alabama | $80,522 | $38.71 |
| 10 | Virginia | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $90,793 | $43.65 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $97,207 | $46.73 |
| 13 | Michigan | $77,812 | $37.41 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $98,703 | $47.45 |
| 15 | Maryland | $78,823 | $37.90 |
| 16 | Alaska | $66,951 | $32.19 |
| 17 | Maine | $76,203 | $36.64 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $80,858 | $38.87 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $70,051 | $33.68 |
| 20 | Kansas | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| 21 | Ohio | $74,889 | $36.00 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $65,623 | $31.55 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $68,715 | $33.04 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $59,647 | $28.68 |
| 25 | Missouri | $67,621 | $32.51 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $57,344 | $27.57 |
| 27 | Indiana | $57,787 | $27.78 |
| 28 | Montana | $58,267 | $28.01 |
| 29 | Idaho | $68,657 | $33.01 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $63,641 | $30.60 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $64,706 | $31.11 |
| 32 | Washington | $65,171 | $31.33 |
| 33 | Iowa | $55,853 | $26.85 |
| 34 | Georgia | $58,673 | $28.21 |
| 35 | Arizona | $63,011 | $30.29 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $56,327 | $27.08 |
| 37 | Texas | $54,424 | $26.17 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $50,236 | $24.15 |
| 39 | Illinois | $60,928 | $29.29 |
| 40 | Colorado | $49,335 | $23.72 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $53,938 | $25.93 |
| 42 | Delaware | $56,838 | $27.33 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $48,619 | $23.37 |
| 44 | Utah | $52,169 | $25.08 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $50,787 | $24.42 |
| 46 | Nevada | $54,879 | $26.38 |
| 47 | Florida | $46,887 | $22.54 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $36,053 | $17.33 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $50,157 | $24.11 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $45,795 | $22.02 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $39,154 | $18.82 |
The highest-paying cities for adjunct lecturers are New York, NY, Lakewood, NJ, and Santa Clara, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $133,842 | $64.35 |
| 2 | Lakewood, NJ | $114,494 | $55.05 |
| 3 | Santa Clara, CA | $106,940 | $51.41 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $96,092 | $46.20 |
| 5 | Waltham, MA | $91,406 | $43.95 |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| 7 | Middletown, PA | $82,856 | $39.83 |
| 8 | Towson, MD | $79,188 | $38.07 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $78,559 | $37.77 |
| 10 | Kent, OH | $78,051 | $37.52 |
| 11 | New Orleans, LA | $70,701 | $33.99 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $68,437 | $32.90 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $64,460 | $30.99 |
| 14 | Pocatello, ID | $63,881 | $30.71 |
| 15 | Evanston, IL | $62,014 | $29.81 |
| 16 | Tucson, AZ | $61,220 | $29.43 |
| 17 | South Bend, IN | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| 18 | Knoxville, TN | $57,931 | $27.85 |
| 19 | Iowa City, IA | $56,940 | $27.38 |
| 20 | Dallas, TX | $51,005 | $24.52 |
An adjunct lecturer's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $149,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $149,000 | $12,417 | $72 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Average | $79,657 | $6,638 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
The highest paying types of adjunct lecturers are visiting professor, associate professor, and adjunct professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty | $80,405 | $6,700 | $38.66 | 21,142 |
| Math Teacher | $51,088 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 59,347 |
| Visiting Professor | $116,217 | $9,685 | $55.87 | 27,139 |
| College Instructor | $50,584 | $4,215 | $24.32 | 41,053 |
| Special Educator | $53,565 | $4,464 | $25.75 | 62,545 |
| ESL Instructor | $53,226 | $4,436 | $25.59 | 26,173 |
Top companies hiring adjunct lecturers now:
Adjunct lecturer salaries at Johns Hopkins University and Queen's College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average adjunct lecturer salary at companies like Tulane University and The City University of New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University | $197,498 | $94.95 |
| 2 | Queen's College | $162,426 | $78.09 |
| 3 | Tulane University | $137,605 | $66.16 |
| 4 | The City University of New York | $136,126 | $65.45 |
| 5 | Rutgers University | $127,631 | $61.36 |
| 6 | University of Detroit Mercy | $112,021 | $53.86 |
| 7 | New York University | $108,926 | $52.37 |
| 8 | The Catholic University of America | $102,263 | $49.16 |
| 9 | Kent State University | $101,353 | $48.73 |
| 10 | Santa Clara University | $100,785 | $48.45 |
| 11 | University of Michigan | $98,978 | $47.59 |
| 12 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $97,637 | $46.94 |
| 13 | Frostburg State University | $95,804 | $46.06 |
| 14 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $94,261 | $45.32 |
| 15 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $92,689 | $44.56 |
| 16 | University at Albany | $92,095 | $44.28 |
| 17 | Northeastern Illinois University | $90,606 | $43.56 |
| 18 | Northwestern University | $89,540 | $43.05 |
| 19 | Chicago State University | $85,434 | $41.07 |
| 20 | Florida International University | $84,513 | $40.63 |
The average adjunct lecturer salary has risen by $8,458 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average adjunct lecturer earned $71,199 annually, but today, they earn $79,657 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for adjunct lecturers over the last decade.
Compare adjunct lecturer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare adjunct lecturer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $79,700 | $38.30 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $76,400 | $36.71 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | $72,700 | $34.95 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $71,400 | $34.32 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | $71,300 | $34.28 | +2.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frostburg State University | Adjunct Lecturer-Finance | Frostburg, MD | 06/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Borough of Manhattan Community College | Adjunct Lecturer-Pharmacy Technician (2 Positions) | New York, NY | 06/28/2025 | $202,961 |
| North Dakota University System | Adjunct College Composition (Engl 110) Lecturer-Virtual | Bottineau, ND | 06/25/2025 | $28,800 |
| SCU Credit Union | Semester Adjunct Lecturer-School of Law | Santa Clara, CA | 06/25/2025 | $33,600 |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science | Adjunct Lecturer | North Chicago, IL | 06/16/2025 | $38,400 |
| Rosalindfranklin | Adjunct Lecturer | North Chicago, IL | 06/16/2025 | $38,400 |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Adjunct English Lecturer | Princess Anne, MD | 06/14/2025 | $38,268 |
| University of Arizona | Adjunct Lecturer, Public Health (NTE) | Tucson, AZ | 06/14/2025 | $60,000 |
| Benedictine University | Adjunct Lecturer-Biological Sciences, Fall 2025 Semester | Lisle, IL | 06/13/2025 | $73,045 |
| Columbia University In The City of New York | Adjunct Lecturer, Mathematics for AI (On-Campus, Fall '25) | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $160,500 |
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