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Instructor vs assistant professor

The differences between instructors and assistant professors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an assistant professor has an average salary of $87,099, which is higher than the $53,426 average annual salary of an instructor.

The top three skills for an instructor include customer service, CPR and course curriculum. The most important skills for an assistant professor are patients, public health, and pediatrics.

Instructor vs assistant professor overview

InstructorAssistant Professor
Yearly salary$53,426$87,099
Hourly rate$25.69$41.87
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs39,27330,531
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4246
Years of experience-4

What does an instructor do?

Instructors are responsible for imparting knowledge to students. They are well-versed in different topics related to their area of teaching. They prepare lessons, create presentation materials and other collaterals, and present these to the students. They manage the classroom and ensure that students are attentive. Instructors are also responsible for creating ways to check the students' knowledge retention through schoolwork and examinations. They also evaluate their teaching style as well to further improve their skills for the next batch of students. Instructors should be patient, creative, and well-versed in classroom management.

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.

Instructor vs assistant professor salary

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

InstructorAssistant Professor
Average salary$53,426$87,099
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $94,000Between $50,000 And $151,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateConnecticutHawaii
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictUT Medical Group, Inc.
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between instructor and assistant professor education

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

InstructorAssistant Professor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Instructor vs assistant professor demographics

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

InstructorAssistant Professor
Average age4246
Gender ratioMale, 51.2% Female, 48.8%Male, 55.5% Female, 44.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 9.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%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 Percentage11%16%

Differences between instructor and assistant professor duties and responsibilities

Instructor example responsibilities.

  • Discipline kids when necessary, and manage lifeguarding duties during swimming portions of the camp.
  • Own and manage a small business as a CPR and first aid instructor and consultant for diverse clients.
  • Instruct all areas of massage therapy program including anatomy, physiology, pathology, contraindications and ethics.
  • Teach a broad range of ESL classes, such as pronunciation, grammar, and conversation classes.
  • Develop curricula for college-level philosophy and ethics courses with clear expectations and objectives in mind.
  • Plan and provide human anatomy and physiology course instruction and laboratory activities for students in the nursing program.
  • 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.
  • Show more

Instructor vs assistant professor skills

Common instructor skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Course Curriculum, 8%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Classroom Management, 5%
  • Student Learning, 4%
Common assistant professor skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Public Health, 6%
  • Pediatrics, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%
  • Research Projects, 4%
  • Professional Development, 4%

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