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Instructor vs mentor

The differences between instructors and mentors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an instructor has an average salary of $53,426, which is higher than the $35,581 average annual salary of a mentor.

The top three skills for an instructor include customer service, CPR and course curriculum. The most important skills for a mentor are role model, mathematics, and mental health.

Instructor vs mentor overview

InstructorMentor
Yearly salary$53,426$35,581
Hourly rate$25.69$17.11
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs39,2733,625
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

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 a mentor do?

Mentors are individuals who are usually experienced or considered experts in their field. They provide guidance and inspiration to the people they mentor, often called mentees. Mentors give advice whenever their mentees need them, usually on topics related to their career or studies. They may help their mentees with career concerns by helping them map out a career plan, coaching them to prepare them for interviews, and providing insights on the industry or field they are in. Mentors also help train their mentees in their jobs by providing feedback and guiding them so that they may improve.

Instructor vs mentor salary

Instructors and mentors have different pay scales, as shown below.

InstructorMentor
Average salary$53,426$35,581
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $94,000Between $20,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYReston, VA
Highest paying stateConnecticutVirginia
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictEli Lilly and Company
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between instructor and mentor education

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

InstructorMentor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaNorthwestern University

Instructor vs mentor demographics

Here are the differences between instructors' and mentors' demographics:

InstructorMentor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 51.2% Female, 48.8%Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 9.6% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between instructor and mentor 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

Mentor example responsibilities.

  • Ensure community youth receive timely access to CBHI services by managing waitlist per MCE requirements.
  • Provide academic support services for elementary students requesting assistance in math
  • Help develop IEP goals and objectives.
  • Assist new students with Javascript concepts and frameworks.
  • Tutor student athletes in economics courses of various levels.
  • Calculate GPA's to help students matriculate in program curriculum.
  • Show more

Instructor vs mentor skills

Common instructor skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Course Curriculum, 8%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Classroom Management, 5%
  • Student Learning, 4%
Common mentor skills
  • Role Model, 11%
  • Mathematics, 9%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 6%
  • Community Resources, 6%

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