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The differences between mathematics instructors and adjunct 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 mathematics instructor and an adjunct professor. Additionally, an adjunct professor has an average salary of $98,821, which is higher than the $51,311 average annual salary of a mathematics instructor.
The top three skills for a mathematics instructor include math, classroom management and learning environment. The most important skills for an adjunct professor are course curriculum, syllabus, and semester.
| Mathematics Instructor | Adjunct Professor | |
| Yearly salary | $51,311 | $98,821 |
| Hourly rate | $24.67 | $47.51 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 39,866 | 22,488 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A mathematics instructor is responsible for improving the students' numerical and analytical skills by teaching mathematical disciplines, processes, as well as its nature and history. Mathematics instructors create engaging lesson plans and ensure class coordination by planning group activities, observing the students' group cooperation, and assessing their social behavior. They adhere to the curriculum guidelines, identify every student's learning challenges, and develop strategic plans to address those difficulties. A mathematics instructor must have excellent communication skills, especially on implementing a smart teaching approach to maximize students' potential and prepare them for an advanced level.
Adjunct professors are instructors who are employed on a contractual basis, commonly in part-time positions. They teach courses in the same manner as full-time professors do, but they are free from some of the duties of those fully employed university instructors or in tenure-track positions. They create, develop, distribute, review, and manage course syllabus materials. They teach students, evaluate their performance, and maintain records of attendance, engagement, and progress. They may also facilitate lectures, conduct seminars, and do other administrative tasks within the department. Most adjunct professors enjoy teaching as part-time because they have more flexibility in terms of schedule, can avoid the dilemma of the higher education system and it's known to be less stressful and demanding.
Mathematics instructors and adjunct professors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mathematics Instructor | Adjunct Professor | |
| Average salary | $51,311 | $98,821 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $80,000 | Between $44,000 And $219,000 |
| Highest paying City | Salinas, CA | Providence, RI |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Cathedral High Sch | Rhode Island School of Design |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a mathematics instructor and an adjunct professor in terms of educational background:
| Mathematics Instructor | Adjunct Professor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Mathematics | Business |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between mathematics instructors' and adjunct professors' demographics:
| Mathematics Instructor | Adjunct Professor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0% | Male, 51.5% Female, 48.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 13.1% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |