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The differences between program instructors and college instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a program instructor and a college instructor. Additionally, a college instructor has an average salary of $50,584, which is higher than the $42,380 average annual salary of a program instructor.
The top three skills for a program instructor include patients, K-12 and math. The most important skills for a college instructor are classroom management, mathematics, and syllabus.
| Program Instructor | College Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $42,380 | $50,584 |
| Hourly rate | $20.38 | $24.32 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 92,369 | 41,053 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A program instructor is responsible for facilitating indoor and outdoor programs with various goals and objectives catering to different participants. Program instructors must have excellent communication skills, especially on gaining the participants' attention and engaging them to join the activities prepared for the day. They also maintain a safe and creative learning environment for everyone, observing each participant's behavior and interests, developing group cooperation, and fostering personal development. A program instructor reiterates safety procedures and regulations during the program for everyone's strict compliance and immediately addresses conflicts soon as they arise.
A certified veterinary technician is in charge of performing laboratory tests, participating in medical procedures, and performing clerical support tasks at veterinary clinics, zoos, and private laboratories. Their responsibilities often include collecting information from pet owners, studying patients' medical histories, gathering and analyzing samples from patients through various laboratory procedures, operating equipment and machines, and monitoring patients' conditions. Moreover, under the supervision of a veterinarian, they may also provide first-aid to animals and administer medication.
Program instructors and college instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Instructor | College Instructor | |
| Average salary | $42,380 | $50,584 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $60,000 | Between $34,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Marathon Oil |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a program instructor and a college instructor in terms of educational background:
| Program Instructor | College Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between program instructors' and college instructors' demographics:
| Program Instructor | College Instructor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% | Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 7.1% 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% |