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The differences between adjunct professors and lead instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an adjunct professor has an average salary of $98,821, which is higher than the $50,221 average annual salary of a lead instructor.
The top three skills for an adjunct professor include course curriculum, syllabus and semester. The most important skills for a lead instructor are classroom management, curriculum development, and professional development.
| Adjunct Professor | Lead Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $98,821 | $50,221 |
| Hourly rate | $47.51 | $24.14 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 22,488 | 37,712 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 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.
A lead instructor's responsibilities vary depending on the line of work or industry. Most of the time, a lead instructor must devise plans and strategies on educating students or trainees on a particular subject. Aside from providing various learning materials, one must also conduct different assessment activities ranging from oral, written, or practical tests and grade them accordingly. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain a healthy and safe environment for students, prioritizing everyone's interpersonal and academic progress throughout the school year or course.
Adjunct professors and lead instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Adjunct Professor | Lead Instructor | |
| Average salary | $98,821 | $50,221 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $219,000 | Between $32,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Providence, RI | Central Islip, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Rhode Island School of Design | Kern Community College District |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between an adjunct professor and a lead instructor in terms of educational background:
| Adjunct Professor | Lead Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between adjunct professors' and lead instructors' demographics:
| Adjunct Professor | Lead Instructor | |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.5% Female, 48.5% | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 8.5% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 11% |