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Associate professor vs college instructor

The differences between associate professors and college instructors 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 a college instructor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an associate professor has an average salary of $103,292, which is higher than the $50,584 average annual salary of a college instructor.

The top three skills for an associate professor include patients, public health and philosophy. The most important skills for a college instructor are classroom management, mathematics, and syllabus.

Associate professor vs college instructor overview

Associate ProfessorCollege Instructor
Yearly salary$103,292$50,584
Hourly rate$49.66$24.32
Growth rate12%2%
Number of jobs30,08341,053
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4646
Years of experience24

What does an associate professor do?

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.

What does a college instructor do?

A certified veterinary technician is in charge of performing laboratory tests, participating in medical procedures, and performing clerical support tasks at veterinary clinics, zoos, and private laboratories. Their responsibilities often include collecting information from pet owners, studying patients' medical histories, gathering and analyzing samples from patients through various laboratory procedures, operating equipment and machines, and monitoring patients' conditions. Moreover, under the supervision of a veterinarian, they may also provide first-aid to animals and administer medication.

Associate professor vs college instructor salary

Associate professors and college instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Associate ProfessorCollege Instructor
Average salary$103,292$50,584
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $189,000Between $34,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CACupertino, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyBaylor College of MedicineMarathon Oil
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between associate professor and college instructor education

There are a few differences between an associate professor and a college instructor in terms of educational background:

Associate ProfessorCollege Instructor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorNursingBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Texas at AustinUniversity of Pennsylvania

Associate professor vs college instructor demographics

Here are the differences between associate professors' and college instructors' demographics:

Associate ProfessorCollege Instructor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 57.0% Female, 43.0%Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between associate professor and college instructor duties and responsibilities

Associate professor example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage syllabus materials and coordinate curriculum with department chairs.
  • Design exams relevant to material cover up to exam date.
  • Train in and design hybrid and online courses in accounting, economics, and finance.
  • Provide training in basic military tactics, leadership procedures, operations orders, and ethics.
  • Teach didactic lectures for nurse practitioner graduate students as a part of their pharmacology subject requirement.
  • Handle the task of conducting regular lectures of anatomy and microbiology experiments in the classroom as well as in laboratories.
  • Show more

College instructor example responsibilities.

  • Excel in achieving proficiency in teaching mathematics to students which is measured through tests ensuring accuracy of information teach.
  • Teach college composition and literature courses.
  • Provide ESL instruction to adult learners.
  • Serve on faculty committee to revise and restructure placement process for incoming ESL students.
  • Instruct graduate and undergraduate courses in leadership, management, ethics, organizational studies ,
  • Provide instruction to college students in the areas of sociology, psychology and addiction treatment.
  • Show more

Associate professor vs college instructor skills

Common associate professor skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Public Health, 11%
  • Philosophy, 8%
  • Pediatrics, 4%
  • Social Work, 4%
  • Research Projects, 3%
Common college instructor skills
  • Classroom Management, 17%
  • Mathematics, 7%
  • Syllabus, 6%
  • Social Work, 5%
  • Course Curriculum, 5%
  • Student Learning, 5%

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