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The differences between associate professors and instructors, adjunct faculty 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 instructor, adjunct faculty takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an associate professor has an average salary of $103,292, which is higher than the $52,225 average annual salary of an instructor, adjunct faculty.
The top three skills for an associate professor include patients, public health and philosophy. The most important skills for an instructor, adjunct faculty are syllabus, student learning, and course syllabus.
| Associate Professor | Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | |
| Yearly salary | $103,292 | $52,225 |
| Hourly rate | $49.66 | $25.11 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 30,083 | 37,739 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| 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 adjunct faculty member works in a state university or college. They typically work on a part-time or contractual basis. Although they work in a university, they have limited responsibilities compared to those who work as a regular instructor, but they still need appropriate work etiquette and a love of teaching and working with students. Like any other instructor, they develop learning material, conduct lectures, prepare exams, and assess students' grades.
Associate professors and instructors, adjunct faculty have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Professor | Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | |
| Average salary | $103,292 | $52,225 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $189,000 | Between $33,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Albany, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Baylor College of Medicine | Ohlone College |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between an associate professor and an instructor, adjunct faculty in terms of educational background:
| Associate Professor | Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Texas at Austin | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between associate professors' and instructors, adjunct faculty' demographics:
| Associate Professor | Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0% | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% |
| 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, 7.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |