How Much Do Adjunct Professors Get Paid?

Adjunct professors hold part-time positions at colleges and universities.

A variety of postsecondary educational institutions hire adjunct professors to fulfill part-time faculty positions. Two-year community colleges, technical schools and four-year colleges and universities employ adjunct professors. Because adjunct professors are part-time employees of postsecondary institutions, many typically have outside jobs to supplement their income. Also, some professors may work part-time hours at different educational institutions; many adjunct professors are employed on a temporary or contract basis.

Qualifications

Many employers prefer to hire professors who hold master's degrees for part-time or non-tenure positions. Additionally, colleges and universities prefer to hire individuals with experience in teaching or distance-learning environments. The full-time teaching staff at postsecondary academic institutions may be required to hold higher-level degrees such as Ph.D. or doctorate degrees, while prospective adjunct or non-tenured professors may qualify for certain positions without advanced degrees.

Earning Dimensions

Adjunct professors usually are paid a specific amount per credit hour for each course. Additionally, the total amount of pay for professors is typically calculated per semester by the amount of course credit hours. Other factors that may influence the pay range of adjunct professors include the professor's level of professional experience, hiring date, educational degrees and the location of the school.

Employment

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in comparison of full-time and part-time employment opportunities for professors, job opportunities are expected to be better for part-time or non-tenure positions. Competition is generally higher for full-time positions rather than part-time positions. As a whole, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that job opportunities will increase for professors due to the increase in the number of individuals attending postsecondary institutions and the percentage of professors who are expected to retire. In 2008, postsecondary teachers held 1,699,200 jobs and by 2018, postsecondary professors are expected to hold 1,956,100 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

Salary

The overall median salary for post-secondary teachers was $58,830 in 2008. The salary range may vary depending on the academic institution, location of the school, and the academic field of the job position. However, adjunct professors are usually paid lower salaries than full-time professors at postsecondary institutions. According to Simply Hired, adjunct professors earn an average salary of $49,000. Also, Indeed reports that the average salary for adjunct faculty is $56,000. According to Indeed, adjunct positions earn an average salary of $63,000.

Resources

• Simply Hired: Average Adjunct Professor Salaries
• Austin Community College: Adjunct Faculty Salary Scale
• Indeed: Adjunct Faculty Salary
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Teachers-Postsecondary
• The Community College of Baltimore County: Adjunct Faculty Payscale