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The differences between assistant 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 assistant professor and an adjunct faculty member. Additionally, an assistant professor has an average salary of $87,099, which is higher than the $60,817 average annual salary of an adjunct faculty member.
The top three skills for an assistant professor include patients, public health and pediatrics. The most important skills for an adjunct faculty member are syllabus, curriculum development, and powerpoint.
| Assistant Professor | Adjunct Faculty Member | |
| Yearly salary | $87,099 | $60,817 |
| Hourly rate | $41.87 | $29.24 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 30,531 | 28,981 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An assistant professor is an entry-level position who teaches in a university, conducts research, and assists senior professors. Assistant professors supervise undergraduate and graduate students at the same time provide professors and department heads with feedback on the progress of their students. To be effective in teaching and mentoring students, assistant professors must possess strong communication skills with advanced knowledge of their field. They must also have a Ph. D degree in the relevant academic discipline as well as teaching experience in a university setting.
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.
Assistant professors and adjunct faculty members have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Professor | Adjunct Faculty Member | |
| Average salary | $87,099 | $60,817 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $151,000 | Between $37,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Hoboken, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Ohio |
| Best paying company | UT Medical Group, Inc. | Nebraska Methodist Health System |
| Best paying industry | Government | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an assistant professor and an adjunct faculty member in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Professor | Adjunct Faculty Member | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Business |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between assistant professors' and adjunct faculty members' demographics:
| Assistant Professor | Adjunct Faculty Member | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.5% Female, 44.5% | Male, 44.9% Female, 55.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 17.4% White, 62.5% 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% |