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Assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer

The differences between assistant professors and adjunct lecturers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an assistant professor has an average salary of $87,099, which is higher than the $79,657 average annual salary of an adjunct lecturer.

The top three skills for an assistant professor include patients, public health and pediatrics. The most important skills for an adjunct lecturer are C++, undergraduate courses, and syllabus.

Assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer overview

Assistant ProfessorAdjunct Lecturer
Yearly salary$87,099$79,657
Hourly rate$41.87$38.30
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs30,53126,546
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4646
Years of experience4-

What does an assistant professor do?

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.

What does an adjunct lecturer do?

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.

Assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer salary

Assistant professors and adjunct lecturers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant ProfessorAdjunct Lecturer
Average salary$87,099$79,657
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $151,000Between $42,000 And $149,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCNew York, NY
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew York
Best paying companyUT Medical Group, Inc.Johns Hopkins University
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between assistant professor and adjunct lecturer education

There are a few differences between an assistant professor and an adjunct lecturer in terms of educational background:

Assistant ProfessorAdjunct Lecturer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorNursingEnglish
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillCarnegie Mellon University

Assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer demographics

Here are the differences between assistant professors' and adjunct lecturers' demographics:

Assistant ProfessorAdjunct Lecturer
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 55.5% Female, 44.5%Male, 50.5% Female, 49.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.1% Asian, 12.8% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between assistant professor and adjunct lecturer duties and responsibilities

Assistant professor example responsibilities.

  • Lead outreach to community and statewide stakeholders in the PPCC entrepreneurship program.
  • Used blackboard online to manage students tests, grade papers and assign materials.
  • Develop courses in immunology and research ethics, and develop super laboratory courses in cellular physiology and molecular biology.
  • Conduct research using molecular biology, genetics, histochemistry, cell biology, biochemistry.
  • Chair psychology and sociology departments, teach psychology classes, revise student practicum program, establish outreach mechanisms to reach alternative students
  • Serve as professor for humanities and sociology.
  • Show more

Adjunct lecturer example 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.
  • Show more

Assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer skills

Common assistant professor skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Public Health, 6%
  • Pediatrics, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%
  • Research Projects, 4%
  • Professional Development, 4%
Common adjunct lecturer skills
  • C++, 10%
  • Undergraduate Courses, 8%
  • Syllabus, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Mathematics, 5%
  • Course Syllabus, 5%

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