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The differences between associate professors and assistant professors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an associate professor, becoming an assistant professor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an associate professor has an average salary of $103,292, which is higher than the $87,099 average annual salary of an assistant professor.
The top three skills for an associate professor include patients, public health and philosophy. The most important skills for an assistant professor are patients, public health, and pediatrics.
| Associate Professor | Assistant Professor | |
| Yearly salary | $103,292 | $87,099 |
| Hourly rate | $49.66 | $41.87 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 30,083 | 30,531 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
An associate professor works as a teacher at higher education institutions like universities and colleges. Normally, associate professors teach classes pertinent to a certain field of their expertise. They teach and speak in seminars, conduct research, supervise students, and attend conferences. Among their other responsibilities are advising teaching assistants, discussing administrative tasks, and collaborating with their colleagues. They are expected to have great knowledge of the subject they are teaching and good communication skills.
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.
Associate professors and assistant professors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Professor | Assistant Professor | |
| Average salary | $103,292 | $87,099 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $189,000 | Between $50,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Baylor College of Medicine | UT Medical Group, Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between an associate professor and an assistant professor in terms of educational background:
| Associate Professor | Assistant Professor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Texas at Austin | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between associate professors' and assistant professors' demographics:
| Associate Professor | Assistant Professor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0% | Male, 55.5% Female, 44.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 17.1% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |