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The differences between professors and adjunct faculties can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a professor, becoming an adjunct faculty takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a professor has an average salary of $157,570, which is higher than the $83,069 average annual salary of an adjunct faculty.
The top three skills for a professor include philosophy, curriculum development and mathematics. The most important skills for an adjunct faculty are student learning, syllabus, and philosophy.
| Professor | Adjunct Faculty | |
| Yearly salary | $157,570 | $83,069 |
| Hourly rate | $75.75 | $39.94 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 21,861 | 26,791 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
Adjunct faculty is the collective term for adjunct professors or lecturers. The adjunct faculty teaches students based on the limited-term of their contract. Oftentimes, they teach preparatory or introductory courses by semester arrangement for the entire academic year. Most of them are employed in higher education. Unlike regular professors, adjunct faculty do not have benefits and are not required to be present in meetings. They can work as either a contract professor or a part-time professor.
Professors and adjunct faculties have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professor | Adjunct Faculty | |
| Average salary | $157,570 | $83,069 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $280,000 | Between $45,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Oregon Health & Science University | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between a professor and an adjunct faculty in terms of educational background:
| Professor | Adjunct Faculty | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Nursing |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between professors' and adjunct faculties' demographics:
| Professor | Adjunct Faculty | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% | Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 11.2% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |