Post job

Vocational instructor vs adjunct faculty

The differences between vocational instructors and adjunct faculties can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a vocational instructor and an adjunct faculty. Additionally, an adjunct faculty has an average salary of $83,069, which is higher than the $41,610 average annual salary of a vocational instructor.

The top three skills for a vocational instructor include plumbing, course objectives and developmental disabilities. The most important skills for an adjunct faculty are student learning, syllabus, and philosophy.

Vocational instructor vs adjunct faculty overview

Vocational InstructorAdjunct Faculty
Yearly salary$41,610$83,069
Hourly rate$20.00$39.94
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs37,08426,791
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does a vocational instructor do?

Depending on their field of specialization, a vocational instructor is usually found working in secondary schools, technical schools, or other training institutions. Their major duty is to teach students a specific trade or occupation. Their responsibility is to teach a particular subject that can immediately be applied to a specific field or job. They are also expected to provide guidance to students and assist them with placement, aside from teaching them in the classroom.

What does an adjunct faculty do?

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.

Vocational instructor vs adjunct faculty salary

Vocational instructors and adjunct faculties have different pay scales, as shown below.

Vocational InstructorAdjunct Faculty
Average salary$41,610$83,069
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $55,000Between $45,000 And $152,000
Highest paying CitySpringfield, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyNew York State Restaurant AssociationHca Hospital Services Of San Diego
Best paying industryUtilitiesGovernment

Differences between vocational instructor and adjunct faculty education

There are a few differences between a vocational instructor and an adjunct faculty in terms of educational background:

Vocational InstructorAdjunct Faculty
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common majorBusinessNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Vocational instructor vs adjunct faculty demographics

Here are the differences between vocational instructors' and adjunct faculties' demographics:

Vocational InstructorAdjunct Faculty
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 49.4% Female, 50.6%Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% 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 Percentage16%16%

Differences between vocational instructor and adjunct faculty duties and responsibilities

Vocational instructor example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish creating new work processes for the students to follow; successfully bringing the required ASHP and the PTCB require standards.
  • Utilize blackboard management system to encourage online discussions and manage grades.
  • Teach all requirements necessary to prepare for the certification exam: proper aseptic sterile product technique for compounding and iv preparation.
  • Provide yearly first aid and CPR training for students and faculty.
  • Provide pertinent information and opinions for ISP and IEP team meetings.
  • Develop new products, jigs, fixtures, and production processes.
  • Show more

Adjunct faculty example responsibilities.

  • Lead early childhood program initiatives.
  • Provide detail academic instruction for college students in anatomy & physiology, and medical terminology.
  • Prepare lectures, in-class exercises, and collect entirely new course materials to create a personalize syllabus
  • Inform students about course requirements, evaluation procedures, attendance and participation requirements in a course syllabus.
  • Facilitate teaching of online humanities course examining relationship between philosophy and ethics including issues relating to morality.
  • Provide instruction in accounting, economics, federal taxation, management, personnel and small business management.
  • Show more

Vocational instructor vs adjunct faculty skills

Common vocational instructor skills
  • Plumbing, 24%
  • Course Objectives, 23%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 6%
  • Vocational Training, 5%
  • Safety Standards, 4%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%
Common adjunct faculty skills
  • Student Learning, 11%
  • Syllabus, 8%
  • Philosophy, 7%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Course Syllabus, 5%
  • Course Content, 5%

Browse education, training, and library jobs