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Clinical instructor vs assistant professor

The differences between clinical instructors and assistant professors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a clinical instructor and an assistant professor. Additionally, an assistant professor has an average salary of $87,099, which is higher than the $84,613 average annual salary of a clinical instructor.

The top three skills for a clinical instructor include patients, direct patient care and clinical practice. The most important skills for an assistant professor are patients, public health, and pediatrics.

Clinical instructor vs assistant professor overview

Clinical InstructorAssistant Professor
Yearly salary$84,613$87,099
Hourly rate$40.68$41.87
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs87,15230,531
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does a clinical instructor do?

A clinical instructor is responsible for instructing and evaluating the clinical training of health sciences students. Clinical instructors identify each student's potential and areas of improvement to adjust the teaching approach as needed. They conduct lectures and training in the classroom and health care facilities, testing the students' knowledge by performing actual clinical duties and medical procedures under their supervision. A clinical instructor monitors students' progress, creating comprehensive strategies to enhance interactive learning. A clinical instructor must have extensive knowledge of the medical industry, as well as excellent communication skills to respond to the students' inquiries and concerns during training.

What does an assistant professor do?

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.

Clinical instructor vs assistant professor salary

Clinical instructors and assistant professors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical InstructorAssistant Professor
Average salary$84,613$87,099
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $155,000Between $50,000 And $151,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyOhioHealthUT Medical Group, Inc.
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between clinical instructor and assistant professor education

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

Clinical InstructorAssistant Professor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Clinical instructor vs assistant professor demographics

Here are the differences between clinical instructors' and assistant professors' demographics:

Clinical InstructorAssistant Professor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 25.9% Female, 74.1%Male, 55.5% Female, 44.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.2% 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 Percentage16%16%

Differences between clinical instructor and assistant professor duties and responsibilities

Clinical instructor example responsibilities.

  • Manage, direct, and teach ADN nursing students in the clinical setting in Tulsa hospitals.
  • Experience with ER & ICU patients, set up and perform portable exams.
  • Provide clinical instructions/teaching for the BSN program
  • Educate accelerate BSN students on an inpatient pediatric floor with hands-on instruction
  • Establish strong rapport with patients through effective therapeutic communication and delivery of compassionate level of patient care.
  • Review and demonstrate methods of obtaining accurate health history information for wellness or illness base encounters with patients across the lifespan.
  • Show more

Assistant professor example responsibilities.

  • Lead outreach to community and statewide stakeholders in the PPCC entrepreneurship program.
  • Used blackboard online to manage students tests, grade papers and assign materials.
  • Develop courses in immunology and research ethics, and develop super laboratory courses in cellular physiology and molecular biology.
  • Conduct research using molecular biology, genetics, histochemistry, cell biology, biochemistry.
  • Chair psychology and sociology departments, teach psychology classes, revise student practicum program, establish outreach mechanisms to reach alternative students
  • Serve as professor for humanities and sociology.
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Clinical instructor vs assistant professor skills

Common clinical instructor skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Direct Patient Care, 6%
  • Clinical Practice, 4%
  • Pediatrics, 3%
  • Medical Surgical, 3%
  • Clinical Supervision, 3%
Common assistant professor skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Public Health, 6%
  • Pediatrics, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%
  • Research Projects, 4%
  • Professional Development, 4%

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