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The differences between adjunct professors and adjunct faculty members can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an adjunct professor and an adjunct faculty member. Additionally, an adjunct professor has an average salary of $98,821, which is higher than the $60,817 average annual salary of an adjunct faculty member.
The top three skills for an adjunct professor include course curriculum, syllabus and semester. The most important skills for an adjunct faculty member are syllabus, curriculum development, and powerpoint.
| Adjunct Professor | Adjunct Faculty Member | |
| Yearly salary | $98,821 | $60,817 |
| Hourly rate | $47.51 | $29.24 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 22,488 | 28,981 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Adjunct professors are instructors who are employed on a contractual basis, commonly in part-time positions. They teach courses in the same manner as full-time professors do, but they are free from some of the duties of those fully employed university instructors or in tenure-track positions. They create, develop, distribute, review, and manage course syllabus materials. They teach students, evaluate their performance, and maintain records of attendance, engagement, and progress. They may also facilitate lectures, conduct seminars, and do other administrative tasks within the department. Most adjunct professors enjoy teaching as part-time because they have more flexibility in terms of schedule, can avoid the dilemma of the higher education system and it's known to be less stressful and demanding.
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.
Adjunct professors and adjunct faculty members have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Adjunct Professor | Adjunct Faculty Member | |
| Average salary | $98,821 | $60,817 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $219,000 | Between $37,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Providence, RI | Hoboken, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Ohio |
| Best paying company | Rhode Island School of Design | Nebraska Methodist Health System |
| Best paying industry | Education | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an adjunct professor and an adjunct faculty member in terms of educational background:
| Adjunct Professor | Adjunct Faculty Member | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between adjunct professors' and adjunct faculty members' demographics:
| Adjunct Professor | Adjunct Faculty Member | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.5% Female, 48.5% | Male, 44.9% Female, 55.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |