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Adjunct professor salary
Average adjunct professor salary
$98,821
Understanding Adjunct Professor Salaries
As an adjunct professor, your salary can vary significantly based on several factors, including location, institution type, and years of experience. In October 2025, the national average salary stands at $98,821 per year. Adjunct professors typically work part-time at colleges or universities, providing flexibility in their schedules.
Salary estimates show that adjunct professors in states like California, New York, and Massachusetts often earn more due to higher living costs and demand for qualified instructors. For instance, adjuncts in California can earn upwards of $105,000, reflecting the competitive nature of the academic job market in the region.
Additionally, experience plays a critical role in determining salary. Those with advanced degrees or significant teaching experience may command higher pay. The pay structure also varies between community colleges and research universities, with the latter offering more competitive salaries.
To maximize your earning potential, consider pursuing additional certifications or transitioning into full-time roles. Explore job listings and salary trends to stay informed and make strategic career decisions.
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Where can an Adjunct Professor earn more?
Adjunct professor salary estimates from across the web
Average adjunct professor salary by state
The highest-paying states for adjunct professors are Rhode Island, New York, and Connecticut. The lowest average adjunct professor salary states are Hawaii, Wyoming, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for adjunct professors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $126,977 | $61.05 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $129,569 | $62.29 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $120,045 | $57.71 |
| 4 | Alaska | $109,986 | $52.88 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $116,137 | $55.84 |
| 6 | Oregon | $107,793 | $51.82 |
| 7 | Maine | $120,705 | $58.03 |
| 8 | Vermont | $103,111 | $49.57 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $116,057 | $55.80 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $125,617 | $60.39 |
| 11 | Utah | $102,831 | $49.44 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $95,311 | $45.82 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $87,897 | $42.26 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $92,548 | $44.49 |
| 15 | Delaware | $108,380 | $52.11 |
| 16 | California | $107,618 | $51.74 |
| 17 | Maryland | $92,341 | $44.39 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $88,241 | $42.42 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $101,154 | $48.63 |
| 20 | Montana | $82,283 | $39.56 |
| 21 | Ohio | $88,563 | $42.58 |
| 22 | Virginia | $82,291 | $39.56 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $85,587 | $41.15 |
| 24 | Iowa | $79,293 | $38.12 |
| 25 | Washington | $91,770 | $44.12 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $72,271 | $34.75 |
| 27 | Texas | $72,837 | $35.02 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $73,549 | $35.36 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $76,994 | $37.02 |
| 30 | Colorado | $72,509 | $34.86 |
| 31 | Michigan | $73,599 | $35.38 |
| 32 | Nevada | $82,683 | $39.75 |
| 33 | Arizona | $78,497 | $37.74 |
| 34 | Alabama | $69,999 | $33.65 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $66,543 | $31.99 |
| 36 | Indiana | $64,079 | $30.81 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $71,924 | $34.58 |
| 38 | Missouri | $70,643 | $33.96 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $69,393 | $33.36 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $69,569 | $33.45 |
| 41 | Florida | $67,700 | $32.55 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $50,501 | $24.28 |
| 43 | Georgia | $58,985 | $28.36 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $57,079 | $27.44 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $52,630 | $25.30 |
| 46 | Illinois | $61,153 | $29.40 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $55,386 | $26.63 |
| 48 | Idaho | $58,082 | $27.92 |
| 49 | Kansas | $54,916 | $26.40 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $54,272 | $26.09 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $55,476 | $26.67 |
Highest paying cities for adjunct professors
The highest-paying cities for adjunct professors are Providence, RI, New York, NY, and New Britain, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence, RI | $143,708 | $69.09 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $142,544 | $68.53 |
| 3 | New Britain, CT | $138,934 | $66.80 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $134,138 | $64.49 |
| 5 | Teaneck, NJ | $126,059 | $60.61 |
| 6 | Worcester, MA | $122,406 | $58.85 |
| 7 | Glendale, CA | $111,005 | $53.37 |
| 8 | Provo, UT | $104,571 | $50.27 |
| 9 | Bethlehem, PA | $100,288 | $48.22 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $96,029 | $46.17 |
| 11 | Columbia, SC | $95,162 | $45.75 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $82,493 | $39.66 |
| 13 | Hamilton, OH | $80,137 | $38.53 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $79,473 | $38.21 |
| 15 | Kingsville, TX | $77,314 | $37.17 |
| 16 | Ann Arbor, MI | $72,740 | $34.97 |
| 17 | Fort Collins, CO | $72,312 | $34.77 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $70,233 | $33.77 |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $69,260 | $33.30 |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | $67,068 | $32.24 |
Adjunct Professors are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Adjunct professor salary details
An adjunct professor's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $219,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an adjunct professor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $219,000 | $18,250 | $105 |
| 75th Percentile | $150,000 | $12,500 | $72 |
| Average | $98,821 | $8,235 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
Highest paying adjunct professor jobs
The highest paying types of adjunct professors are professor, visiting professor, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty | $80,405 | $6,700 | $38.66 | 21,142 |
| Language Teacher | $51,413 | $4,284 | $24.72 | 74,479 |
| Social Studies Teacher | $49,725 | $4,144 | $23.91 | 94,087 |
| Faculty Member | $102,849 | $8,571 | $49.45 | 30,325 |
| French Teacher | $49,442 | $4,120 | $23.77 | 54,716 |
| College Instructor | $50,584 | $4,215 | $24.32 | 41,053 |
Top companies hiring adjunct professors now:
Which companies pay adjunct professors the most?
Adjunct professor salaries at Rhode Island School of Design and UnityPoint Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average adjunct professor salary at companies like California College of the Arts and University of Maryland, Baltimore are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island School of Design | $289,877 | $139.36 |
| 2 | UnityPoint Health | $179,277 | $86.19 |
| 3 | California College of the Arts | $169,926 | $81.70 |
| 4 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $169,717 | $81.59 |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins University | $162,847 | $78.29 |
| 6 | Bon Secours Community Hospital | $161,987 | $77.88 |
| 7 | UMiami Health System | $149,786 | $72.01 |
| 8 | State University of New York College at Cortland | $142,192 | $68.36 |
| 9 | Finger Lakes Community Health | $140,901 | $67.74 |
| 10 | Mt. San Antonio College | $140,448 | $67.52 |
| 11 | Loyola University New Orleans | $140,280 | $67.44 |
| 12 | Bertelsmann | $138,144 | $66.42 |
| 13 | Middlebury College | $133,640 | $64.25 |
| 14 | 4CD Live | $121,589 | $58.46 |
| 15 | New York Institute of Technology | $118,182 | $56.82 |
| 16 | California Baptist University | $118,074 | $56.77 |
| 17 | Lincoln Memorial University | $116,863 | $56.18 |
| 18 | Cornell University | $115,096 | $55.33 |
| 19 | Montclair State University | $114,663 | $55.13 |
| 20 | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | $114,626 | $55.11 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Adjunct professor salary trends
The average adjunct professor salary has risen by $19,178 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average adjunct professor earned $79,643 annually, but today, they earn $98,821 a year. That works out to a 0% change in pay for adjunct professors over the last decade.
Compare adjunct professor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average adjunct professor salary over time
Compare adjunct professor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Adjunct professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $98,800 | $47.51 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $97,100 | $46.66 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | $97,100 | $46.69 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | $97,600 | $46.93 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | $99,100 | $47.64 | +8.6% |
Recently added adjunct professor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnard College | Adjunct | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $159,000 |
| Nebraska Christian College of Hope International University | On-Ground or Online Adjunct Professor In Communication Studies | Fullerton, CA | 06/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| State of South Carolina | Adjunct Professor of Allied Health Sciences | Columbia, SC | 06/25/2025 | $31,506 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | Adjunct-Supply Chain & Logistics | Bloomington, IN | 06/25/2025 | $97,567 |
| Mt. San Antonio College | American Language (ESL Credit)-Adjunct Professor | Walnut, CA | 06/23/2025 | $194,091 |
| North Dakota University System | Adjunct-Dental | Minot, ND | 06/15/2025 | $73,045 |
| Alliant International University | Adjunct Professor-Cspp-Fall 2025 Clinical Psyd Program | San Diego, CA | 06/13/2025 | $96,002 |
| Indian River State College | Adjunct-ESL | Fort Pierce, FL | 06/13/2025 | $44,036 |
| Touro College | Adjunct, Anatomy | Middletown, NY | 06/10/2025 | $250,440 |
| Columbus State Community College | Adjunct-Networking | Columbus, OH | 06/06/2025 | $116,622 |
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