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Biology instructor vs biology teacher

The differences between biology instructors and biology teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a biology instructor, becoming a biology teacher takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a biology instructor has an average salary of $58,811, which is higher than the $51,721 average annual salary of a biology teacher.

The top three skills for a biology instructor include anatomy, student learning and lab experiments. The most important skills for a biology teacher are classroom management, science curriculum, and student learning.

Biology instructor vs biology teacher overview

Biology InstructorBiology Teacher
Yearly salary$58,811$51,721
Hourly rate$28.27$24.87
Growth rate12%5%
Number of jobs37,54068,958
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4643
Years of experience42

What does a biology instructor do?

A Biology Instructor is a teacher responsible for educating students on biology either in middle school, high school, or at a college level. They are responsible for creating a learning curriculum that covers scientific investigations and lab experiments. They must also design student assessment programs, liaise with parents on student growth, and create school policies and regulations. Other duties include coordinating field trips, attending staff meetings, and establishing student rapport.

What does a biology teacher do?

A biology teacher specializes in teaching biology to students at learning institutions. Their duties consist of developing lesson and assessment plans, preparing teaching materials such as handouts and presentations, conducting tests and examinations, grading the students' papers and homework, and monitoring their academic progress and behavior. They must also organize laboratory activities and demonstrations, supervise the students in various procedures, and implement the laboratory rules and regulations to maintain a safe and effective learning environment for everyone.

Biology instructor vs biology teacher salary

Biology instructors and biology teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Biology InstructorBiology Teacher
Average salary$58,811$51,721
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $91,000Between $36,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CASalisbury, MD
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMaryland
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictBoston Public Schools
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between biology instructor and biology teacher education

There are a few differences between a biology instructor and a biology teacher in terms of educational background:

Biology InstructorBiology Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeCornell UniversityHarvard University

Biology instructor vs biology teacher demographics

Here are the differences between biology instructors' and biology teachers' demographics:

Biology InstructorBiology Teacher
Average age4643
Gender ratioMale, 45.9% Female, 54.1%Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 11.2% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage16%12%

Differences between biology instructor and biology teacher duties and responsibilities

Biology instructor example responsibilities.

  • Manage studies to meet FDA approval of new medical devices, drugs, materials, and techniques.
  • Manage externally fund genome sequencing projects as a principal investigator.
  • Lead and engage students in case study discussions regarding physiological scenarios.
  • Repair, maintain, and oversee use of FT-IR, NMR, GC/MS, UV-Vis, and GC instrumentation.
  • Design specific PCR primers using Oligo software.
  • Create a laboratory program for this course.
  • Show more

Biology teacher example responsibilities.

  • Plan and instruct human anatomy & physiology, genetics, and biology courses
  • Design and instruct the following courses: biology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology lab.
  • Revise plans for ESL and students with learning disabilities.
  • Help ESL students with their English and writing papers.
  • Involve in after school tutoring of mathematics for state standardize test.
  • Provide accommodations for students that have IEP's, and other learning barriers.
  • Show more

Biology instructor vs biology teacher skills

Common biology instructor skills
  • Anatomy, 14%
  • Student Learning, 7%
  • Lab Experiments, 7%
  • Biology Courses, 7%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • General Biology, 7%
Common biology teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 13%
  • Science Curriculum, 7%
  • Student Learning, 7%
  • Public Schools, 6%
  • Lab Experiments, 5%
  • Learning Environment, 5%

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