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The differences between assistant professors and visiting assistant professors 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 a visiting assistant professor. Additionally, an assistant professor has an average salary of $87,099, which is higher than the $72,541 average annual salary of a visiting assistant professor.
The top three skills for an assistant professor include patients, public health and pediatrics. The most important skills for a visiting assistant professor are philosophy, literature, and mathematics.
| Assistant Professor | Visiting Assistant Professor | |
| Yearly salary | $87,099 | $72,541 |
| Hourly rate | $41.87 | $34.88 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 30,531 | 27,503 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| 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.
A visiting assistant professor's responsibilities revolve around performing support tasks and conducting lectures while under the supervision or directives of a more experienced professor. Typically working for a limited period, a visiting assistant professor's duties are no different from full-time workers as their responsibilities revolve around assessing student progress through activities and examinations, developing a series of lectures, and preparing coursework. They may also monitor the progress of students, all while maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for everyone.
Assistant professors and visiting assistant professors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Professor | Visiting Assistant Professor | |
| Average salary | $87,099 | $72,541 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $151,000 | Between $41,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Oregon |
| Best paying company | UT Medical Group, Inc. | University of Illinois System |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between an assistant professor and a visiting assistant professor in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Professor | Visiting Assistant Professor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Mathematics |
| 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 visiting assistant professors' demographics:
| Assistant Professor | Visiting Assistant Professor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.5% Female, 44.5% | Male, 58.2% Female, 41.8% |
| 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, 6.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 14.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |