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Job outlook for associate instructors in the United States
Associate instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected associate instructor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for associate instructors are projected over the next decade.
Associate instructor salaries have increased 14% for associate instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 52,076 associate instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 24,928 active associate instructor job openings in the US.
The average associate instructor salary is $50,999.
Are associate instructor jobs in demand?
Associate instructor job and salary trends over time
Associate instructor jobs over time
Associate instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52,076 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 702,373 | 0.21% |
| 2019 | 737,908 | 0.22% |
| 2018 | 193,004 | 0.06% |
| 2017 | 193,609 | 0.06% |
Average associate instructor salary over time
Associate instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,999 | $24.52 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | $50,530 | $24.29 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $48,652 | $23.39 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $46,532 | $22.37 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $44,903 | $21.59 | +2.8% |
Associate instructor jobs by state
Most common states for associate instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 492 | 9% |
| 2 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 388 | 8% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 80 | 8% |
| 4 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 690 | 7% |
| 5 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 671 | 7% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 580 | 7% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 282 | 7% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 66 | 7% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 51 | 7% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 43 | 7% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 476 | 5% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 314 | 5% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 281 | 5% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 161 | 5% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 37 | 5% |
| 16 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 34 | 5% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 30 | 5% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,686 | 4% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 133 | 4% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 80 | 4% |
Most common cities for associate instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leavenworth | 1 | 3% | $30,859 |
| 2 | Moline | 1 | 2% | $43,693 |
| 3 | New York | 3 | 0% | $50,295 |
| 4 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $44,081 |
| 5 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $39,751 |
| 6 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $46,271 |
Associate Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of associate instructor experts
College of the Marshall Islands
University of Kentucky
University of Arizona
University of San Francisco
One University Parkway
Southern Connecticut State University
Macalester College
Pacific Lutheran University
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
University of Washington
Drexel University
California Lutheran University
Angelo State University
Augustana College
University of Notre Dame
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
University of Manchester
City College of New York
What general advice would you give to an Associate Instructor?
Alexander Velasquez: My general advice to any graduate beginning their career in their field is to continue to learn and be a student of your craft. Be open to learning new things because you never know how they will improve your skills and qualifications. For example, I am currently learning video editing. I never thought I would bother to learn video editing, but it makes me a more versatile instructor being able to give students the option of doing video projects, combining and editing them, and having a digital record of what students have learned in the classroom. And given the rise of online learning, it's important nowadays to be an effective instructor both in the traditional in-person format and within the digital landscape.
What Associate Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexander Velasquez: I think that in the next three to five years the most important skills to have—and I mean this—will be critical thinking and imagination. This may sound a bit outlandish, and maybe even a bit naive, but hear me out: Artificial intelligence is making strides to the point where papers are writing themselves with simple instructions, videos are generating themselves with simple instructions, and software is beginning to write itself; and all this has been happening within the last few years. We may begin to see that in the next three to five years, once coveted programming jobs could become automated. Now, what I'm *not* saying is don't go to school for computer programming; but what I *am* saying is that the nature of work and employment *is* changing. For example, if you and and AI are making a video, and both of you have the same script, same voiceover, and so on, the only thing separating your final product from the AI's is the way you *think and imagine*, the perspective that you have as someone who can think critically about the information and lay it out in a visually appealing manner. AI can't do that—at least not yet—because it simply spits out the information it's given. But critical thought, metalevel thinking about information, is what will be one of the most important assets to have in the coming three to five years.
What will help Associate Instructors increase their earning potential?
Alexander Velasquez: I think everyone should look into their career fields and find out what it is that makes you more valuable in that field. Are there any certifications that you can get? What is it that you need to know or learn that companies will find valuable? Much can be learned online, so pick up as many of those skills as you can, and make sure they're on your resume or CV. I believe all those things could maximize salary potential, especially when starting out.
What Associate Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Susi Ferrarello Ph.D: Besides the lifelong learning that you can gain thanks to philosophical work in so many areas such as AI, healthcare, HR, social media etc. philosophy can help enhance effective communication, digital literacy, cultural competence, epistemic awareness, skills in applied ethics, and policy analysis which will be valuable for addressing pressing societal challenges.
Eladio Bobadilla Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Kentucky
History, Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies
What hard/technical skills are most important for Associate Instructors?
Eladio Bobadilla Ph.D.: Writing skills are essential. A good historian must be able to communicate with other specialists and non-specialists alike and to write educational, accessible, and nuanced material for public consumption.
Megan Carney Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Arizona
School of Anthropology
What skills stand out on Associate Instructor resumes?
Megan Carney Ph.D.: For those seeking a teaching position, it is really important to demonstrate previous teaching experience. At this point, it is highly preferred that job applicants have both in-person/classroom teaching experience as well as experience with online teaching, as so many departments are offering both options to students. Applicants should be specific on their resumes and CVs about the courses they taught, course evaluations, and even include some feedback from their former students. If one has taught online, they should list the platforms they're familiar with, such as Canvas and D2L. There is also a strong interest in applicants who have pursued further pedagogical training to augment their sensibilities as instructors that will help to improve accessibility for students. For instance, the Disability Cultural Center at the University of Arizona offers an Ableism 101 workshop and certificate.
What soft skills should all Associate Instructors possess?
Megan Carney Ph.D.: Departments want to hire people who demonstrate a collaborative, team-oriented attitude, especially when it comes to addressing teaching, student advising and mentoring, and committee work within programs. There is also a strong desire to diversify the field and to reverse the trend of shrinking anthropology programs. Applicants should elaborate on their own commitments to strengthening diversity within anthropology and eliminating institutional and other barriers that have perpetuated exclusion.
What skills will help Associate Instructors earn the most?
Megan Carney Ph.D.: Possessing higher degrees (Ph.D., MA) from anthropology and other fields (some applicants might have a master's in public health or a related field); previous teaching experience; a strong record of research and publication in peer-reviewed journals (for tenure-track positions).
What soft skills should all Associate Instructors possess?
Geoffrey Ashton: This and the next question are somewhat difficult to answer since many of the skills that one learns through training in Philosophy are difficult to measure by purely "objective" standards and are widely transferrable to other fields of activity. In this respect, the skills that one develops in Philosophy are by and large "soft." I would include the following as some of the most important "soft skills" in Philosophy: (1) present complex ideas with precision and clarity, both orally and in writing; (2) dialogue with others and engage views that are similar to or different than one's own while maintaining critical distance and open-mindedness; and (3) solve problems in creative ways ("think outside the box").
Keir Fogarty Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ChemistryOne University Parkway
Chemistry Department
What soft skills should all Associate Instructors possess?
Keir Fogarty Ph.D.: -Concrete evidence of oral and written communication skills
-As well as interpersonal skills, effective time management, multitasking, making effective use of limited resources
Dr. Richard Volkman
Professor of Philosophy, Chair, Department of Philosophy, Coordinator, Religious StudiesSouthern Connecticut State University
Department of Philosophy
What soft skills should all Associate Instructors possess?
Dr. Richard Volkman: The "soft skills" would be those mentioned above and especially the ability to model the Philosophical Attitude in a way that students can relate to, with the good judgment to know what style of engagement is likely to be effective with a particular set of students. In philosophical research, the "hard skills" predominate, but the fluid interaction in the classroom that allows a conversation to blossom is at the foreground of effective teaching.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Associate Instructors?
Dr. Richard Volkman: The earnest rational scrutiny that characterizes the Philosophical Attitude requires an ability to move between concrete and abstract with precision and clarity. These skills are honed in the rigorous study of classic texts and logic. These constitute the "hard skills" of Philosophy, in my estimation. In rigor and abstraction, they are comparable to math (the logic of mathematicians and philosophers is the same logic). In-depth, capaciousness, and meaning, are comparable to the exegetical and heuristic skills of a literary scholar. Different schools of thought will emphasize some of these hard skills over others, but each of these skills is necessary for sophisticated philosophical discourse of all kinds, including both scholarship and in the classroom.
What skills will help Associate Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Richard Volkman: Most philosophers lucky enough to make a career in the field are relatively unconcerned with earnings. Just getting a full-time position already approaches winning the lottery.
However, Philosophy majors with just an undergraduate degree perform remarkably well, earning more at mid-career than other non-STEM majors (and many STEM majors). These students of philosophy are not usually working in Philosophy, and they were not hired because of their credentials as Philosophers. Rather, the rigorous and critical thinking they have grown accustomed to in adopting the Philosophical Attitude makes them unusually good at creative problem solving and getting "outside the box." These are very marketable skills in a wide range of endeavors.
We don't generally come to the Philosophical Attitude as a means to get rich, but it turns out that careful and clever thinking that keeps its humility before the unknown is a path to wealth. One famous story about Thales, widely considered the first philosopher in the Western tradition, has it that he was once rebuked to the effect of, "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?" Thales got to thinking and realized a plan to buy up all the olive presses in the region during the off-season at low prices, only to have cornered the market in time for the following year's bumper crop. Thus did he respond to the critics of philosophy by becoming rich through the application of careful thinking and insight. The stats show that many Philosophy BAs regularly accomplish this in their own various careers and market endeavors.
There are probably better and more recent stats on this, but the claim about the earning power of the Philosophy BA is documented at https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2015/09/philosophy-majors-out-earn-other-humanities/403555/.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Associate Instructors?
Walter Greason Ph.D.: Ability to learn multiple managerial and technical platforms rapidly; facility with both quantitative and qualitative data and the capacity to discern multiple forms of mixed research methodologies.
Mike Schleeter
Associate Professor and Chair of PhilosophyPacific Lutheran University
Philosophy Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Associate Instructors?
Mike Schleeter: The most important hard skill, particularly in the context of the pandemic, is the ability to deliver course content effectively in an online modality.
Dr. Jana Asher
Assistant Professor, Director of Statistics EducationSlippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
What hard/technical skills are most important for Associate Instructors?
Dr. Jana Asher: First and foremost, problem-solving in a mathematics context! It is not enough for a Mathematics Instructor to know the basic material of the class; they must also be able to see new, novel problems and be able to solve them. When a Mathematics Instructor enjoys the problem-solving process and can communicate that enjoyment in the classroom, students also begin to enjoy problem-solving as well.
After that, skills with mathematical software packages and skills with online course management systems are most important.
Colin Marshall
Associate Professor, Director of Graduate StudiesUniversity of Washington
Department of Philosophy
What soft skills should all Associate Instructors possess?
Colin Marshall: I'm not sure if a background in ethics is a soft skill, but a combination of academic experience with ethics and interpersonal work can be a huge asset.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Associate Instructors?
Colin Marshall: All philosophy graduates from UW have some proficiency in logic, which is often useful for technical work. Of course, programming abilities are highly in demand these days. Philosophy doesn't teach those directly, but it compliments them since much of programming, like philosophy, is a matter of going back and forth between formal and informal languages.
What skills will help Associate Instructors earn the most?
Colin Marshall: Among students with a philosophy BA, the highest earners on average are those who go into law school. Philosophy teaches analytic skills that are very useful for the LSAT. Speaking more broadly, though, philosophy encourages students to identify and critically analyze complex structures - something that is useful in any organization.
Peter Amato Ph.D.
Director, Programs in Philosophy, Teaching Professor of PhilosophyDrexel University
Department of English & Philosophy
What skills stand out on Associate Instructor resumes?
Peter Amato Ph.D.: Philosophy Instructors need to have expertise in the specific areas they are supposed to teach based on MA or Ph.D. level research at an accredited university. They should also have some experience teaching at the appropriate level, depending on the audience.
What skills will help Associate Instructors earn the most?
Peter Amato Ph.D.: One can sometimes earn a reasonable income from teaching as an adjunct, but pay varies widely from school to school, and usually, there are no benefits. People do not become Philosophy Instructors because they expect to earn a lot of money but because it is a valuable and rewarding endeavor in itself and because it is part of the usual path toward a terminal degree and becoming a university Assistant Professor.
Brian Collins Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Founder & Director of the SoCal Philosophy AcademyCalifornia Lutheran University
Philosophy Department
What soft skills should all Associate Instructors possess?
Brian Collins Ph.D.: First, I think the term "soft skills" underplays how important these traits and skills are - I prefer to call them essential skills. With that said, the most important of the essential skills are written and verbal communication, authentic listening, critical thinking (including adaptability and creativity), and conflict management. The ability to communicate effectively (both speaking/writing and listening) is essential to being an effective philosophy instructor because one must present difficult material clearly, facilitate discussions of that material, and offer critical and constructive feedback in a way that can be received well. These discussions are also often centered on sensitive topics, so managing disagreement and conflict in a way that is productive to exploring the questions and concepts is crucial.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Associate Instructors?
Brian Collins Ph.D.: There are not a lot of technical skills required to be a philosophy instructor (the essential skills are much more important to be successful in a teaching position), but one of them is helpful is to be proficient with classroom technology (computer, projector, PowerPoint presentations, projecting video clips, document camera, etc.). If the position involves online instruction, technical skills with online software and modalities would also be extremely important.
Dr. Jason Pierce
Professor, Department ChairAngelo State University
Arnoldo De León Department of History
What skills stand out on Associate Instructor resumes?
Dr. Jason Pierce: Colleges and universities vary in terms of their primary focus. While larger private and public institutions value research as much as teaching, smaller regional institutions, like Angelo State University, put the most emphasis on teaching. Thus, teaching experience is paramount. We look closely at how many sections a candidate has taught and what classes they could offer when hiring a tenure track or non-tenure track instructor. Faculty at my university teach 4 classes per semester, so we must have someone who is "plug and play" and can handle the workload. For larger universities, research projects may need to be emphasized more. Be sure you understand what kind of institution you are applying to so you can get a sense of what skills that institution or department values the most. Researching the institution and the department is critical for success. Thankfully, that's relatively easy to do nowadays.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Associate Instructors?
Fredy Rodriguez-Mejia Ph.D.: I believe the coronavirus pandemic has pushed companies to design alternative ways for their employees to engage in their day-to-day operations. Hence I believe current graduates might be well positioned to take advantage of these shifts once the pandemic is under control.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Associate Instructors?
Fredy Rodriguez-Mejia Ph.D.: From the social science perspective, students should seek out training and certifications in the following fields: qualitative and quantitative data analysis (e.g. NVivo, MAXQDA, and EXCEL); data visualization software (MS PowerBI, Tableau); UX Design Research bootcamps.
What will help Associate Instructors increase their earning potential?
Fredy Rodriguez-Mejia Ph.D.: The more skills and certification students can get, the better positioned they will be to negotiate higher wages based on the contributions they can offer to a given organization, company or institution. Students should volunteer for research projects where they can be exposed to and learn more about research techniques and data analysis approaches.
What's a good job out of college for Associate Instructors?
Eric Haanstad Ph.D.: Anthropology graduates have so many unique career outcomes, including international institutions, government and non-governmental organizations, corporate and non-profit positions, consultancies and independent contracting, and many places to do anthropology in the workplace. One of the most exciting things about anthropology is it's flexibility, variability, and global impact!
What Associate Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: Most important advice: Take initiative and be productive.
Find practical ways to use skills even if unpaid. Volunteer work is good. Use language skills. Technology skills. Exploit technology skills around the area of interest. If you want to be a teacher find out what software they are using today; what research skills are they utilize. Make sure you log your activities during the gap year especially those that relate to the area in which you want to work. If you want to go into finance, and you're working at a lawn service, understand and learn the business model and the accounting. If you're working at Starbucks (or in any commercial environment), get a chance to do inventories, learn about the ordering process and sources and suppliers for those orders; and how people are scheduled for work. All of that is relevant experience for business.
The CFO and recruiter for Keystone Staffing Solutions emphasized having evidence in your resume of of being productive during the gap time, no matter if it's one, two or three years. Evidence of being productive is what recruiters want to see on your resume: He stresses: "What did you do to expand your knowledge and skills not only in your selected area but beyond. BEING PRODUCTIVE for yourself proves to be an indicator of how productive you will be for me."
Still on gap year. How to go about it? Use teachers, friends, family, anyone in the field or related to it to provide guidance, insight, suggestions. This can lead to projects or experience that will help in learning and growth.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Associate Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Amanda Poole: Anthropology is of increasing relevance in our globalizing world. The unique tools and perspectives of anthropology include thinking holistically, critically, and cross-culturally about complex issues, appreciating and translating across different experiences and perspectives, and conducting research that helps to provide depth of understanding. Applied anthropologist Cathleen Crain explains, "Adding an anthropologist to a research team is like moving from black-and-white TV to color. We're able to observe shades of color that others can't see. Anthropologists understand complexity and can help devise answers that reflect that complexity."
Anthropologists work in four main sectors where they apply a knowledge and skill set related to culture, diversity, and the social impacts of program and policies: academia, government, corporate and business careers, and non-profit or community-based careers. Archaeological anthropologists often work in the field of Cultural Resource Management (CRM). CRM tracks to the building and development industries which are rebounding from COVID, meaning the demand for archaeology is also picking up.
Anthropological skill sets lend themselves to work in a broad variety of professions, including disaster planning and response, development, product development, and humanitarian aid. The global economy demands people with a knowledge of multi-cultural issues and with the skill set to understand and work sensitively and respectfully with people from a variety of backgrounds. As we engage in Covid-19 recovery across varied communities and tackle complex social and environmental challenges facing us at local, national, and global scales, there is a clear growing need for anthropologically trained professionals.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Associate Instructors?
Dr. Amanda Poole: Anthropologists with a BA can find jobs that use their skill sets, but an MA or PhD opens up more job opportunities. Becoming a Registered Archaeologist (
How have salaries changed over time for Associate Instructors?
Dr. Amanda Poole: Salaries have consistently gone up in archaeology and anthropology at rates that exceed cost of living increases. A student with a BA in archaeology and a field school can make on average $18/hr. With more experience they can make an average of $22/hr. For professionals holding BA or MA credentials in anthropology more broadly, the median pay in 2019 was $63,670 per year. Salaries increase with credentials.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Associate Instructors?
Dr. Doron Cohen: It is difficult to say exactly what the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic will be on graduates, but there is likely to be some enduring impact. The good news is that this impact will not necessarily be negative, even if it feels negative at the moment! There are a number of critical skills that the coronavirus pandemic has forced students to develop and which, traditionally, take students many years to acquire. In particular, students have learnt to work flexibly, to adapt to working at home and to develop a range of digital literacy skills and competencies, including managing VPNs, data security, encryption software, Google Docs and collaborative management tools. So from a skill acquisition perspective, students have probably been forced to excel. Another positive to emerge from the pandemic is that many Higher Education Institutions have had to diversify their assessment away from the traditional exam and include more innovative and modern assessment practices, such as blog posts, online presentations and assessed podcasts. So, overall, it's not all negative. That said, many institutions have also made the decision to reduce content and subject knowledge where possible and so employers who require specific knowledge from their incoming applicants may consider some additional in-house training to mitigate any negative effects of reduced content in the curriculum.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Associate Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Stanley Thangaraj: There will be such an increase in jobs related to public health and medicine. In this sense, I see a great number of students engaging with a Masters in Public Health and looking to work at great places like the CDC. Plus, our undergraduate Anthropology conference this year focuses specifically on the pandemic and larger issues of racism. Thus, with regard to Anthropology, I think there will also be a great interest in Medical Anthropology as well. In the job market, I also think PhD in Medical Anthropology will be sought out, like the great Dr. Marcia Inhorn, to provide important information on the larger relation of the pandemic to our worlds in the most holistic way.
We must also account for the importance of Black Lives Matter and its impact in the educational sphere. There is a demand now to now US history in much more holistic ways that accounts for colonialism, imperialism, slavery, indigenous dispossession, and racism. Thus, there will be an increase in jobs teaching this important history and its relevance to the current period.