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Visiting assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer

The differences between visiting assistant professors and adjunct lecturers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an adjunct lecturer has an average salary of $79,657, which is higher than the $72,541 average annual salary of a visiting assistant professor.

The top three skills for a visiting assistant professor include philosophy, literature and mathematics. The most important skills for an adjunct lecturer are C++, undergraduate courses, and syllabus.

Visiting assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer overview

Visiting Assistant ProfessorAdjunct Lecturer
Yearly salary$72,541$79,657
Hourly rate$34.88$38.30
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs27,50326,546
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4646
Years of experience4-

What does a visiting assistant professor do?

A visiting assistant professor's responsibilities revolve around performing support tasks and conducting lectures while under the supervision or directives of a more experienced professor. Typically working for a limited period, a visiting assistant professor's duties are no different from full-time workers as their responsibilities revolve around assessing student progress through activities and examinations, developing a series of lectures, and preparing coursework. They may also monitor the progress of students, all while maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for everyone.

What does an adjunct lecturer do?

An Adjunct Lecturer is responsible for teaching college classes. They prepare course guides, teach content that matches courses standards, and assist students with inquiries outside of class.

Visiting assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer salary

Visiting assistant professors and adjunct lecturers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Visiting Assistant ProfessorAdjunct Lecturer
Average salary$72,541$79,657
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $125,000Between $42,000 And $149,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCNew York, NY
Highest paying stateOregonNew York
Best paying companyUniversity of Illinois SystemJohns Hopkins University
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between visiting assistant professor and adjunct lecturer education

There are a few differences between a visiting assistant professor and an adjunct lecturer in terms of educational background:

Visiting Assistant ProfessorAdjunct Lecturer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorMathematicsEnglish
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillCarnegie Mellon University

Visiting assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer demographics

Here are the differences between visiting assistant professors' and adjunct lecturers' demographics:

Visiting Assistant ProfessorAdjunct Lecturer
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 58.2% Female, 41.8%Male, 50.5% Female, 49.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 14.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 12.8% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between visiting assistant professor and adjunct lecturer duties and responsibilities

Visiting assistant professor example responsibilities.

  • Conduct weekly one-on-one and small group seminar meetings with multiple graduate students.
  • Instruct freshman-level mathematics courses, serve on departmental committees, and advise students.
  • Develop, organize, and teach university courses in sociology and behavioral sciences.
  • Conduct research in sea lamprey neurobiology and physiology in the laboratory of Dr. Weiming Li.
  • Offer a course in Bayesian dynamic time series models to graduate students in statistics and economics.
  • Research and instruction in mathematics and finance with a focus on the fields of aviation and aerospace.
  • Show more

Adjunct lecturer example responsibilities.

  • Develop the course syllabus to achieve personal and departmental proficiency and performance goals.
  • Instruct respiratory therapy and medical assistant students on human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and the pathological basis of diseases.
  • Prepare lesson plans for freshman seminar course.
  • Teach pure and apply mathematics to engineering students.
  • Conduct the student teaching seminar for prospective teaching candidates.
  • Instruct practical sessions and labs for courses in human physiology and environmental chemistry.
  • Show more

Visiting assistant professor vs adjunct lecturer skills

Common visiting assistant professor skills
  • Philosophy, 24%
  • Literature, 7%
  • Mathematics, 6%
  • Economics, 4%
  • Research Methods, 4%
  • Fine Arts, 3%
Common adjunct lecturer skills
  • C++, 10%
  • Undergraduate Courses, 8%
  • Syllabus, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Mathematics, 5%
  • Course Syllabus, 5%

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