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The differences between course instructors and professors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a course instructor, becoming a professor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a professor has an average salary of $157,570, which is higher than the $49,389 average annual salary of a course instructor.
The top three skills for a course instructor include course curriculum, syllabus and course materials. The most important skills for a professor are philosophy, curriculum development, and mathematics.
| Course Instructor | Professor | |
| Yearly salary | $49,389 | $157,570 |
| Hourly rate | $23.74 | $75.75 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 28,255 | 21,861 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A course instructor typically works at a school or other instructional institution. Besides teaching, they are primarily responsible for developing syllabi, creating learning materials, creating lesson plans, creating coursework, administering examinations, grading, and monitoring the students' progress. Additionally, a course instructor may organize seminars for their students and invite guest speakers to provide additional insights.
A professor is a teaching professional who provides instructions to students on various academic and vocational subjects in colleges, universities, and vocational schools. Professors design curriculums for courses and ensure that they meet college and department students. They continuously conduct research and experiments so that advanced knowledge in their field is completed. They share their research and works by publishing them in books and academic journals. They also provide assistance to graduating students.
Course instructors and professors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Course Instructor | Professor | |
| Average salary | $49,389 | $157,570 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $77,000 | Between $88,000 And $280,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Oregon Health & Science University |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Education |
There are a few differences between a course instructor and a professor in terms of educational background:
| Course Instructor | Professor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between course instructors' and professors' demographics:
| Course Instructor | Professor | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.8% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 16% |