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Adjunct Professor Salary in the United States

How much does an Adjunct Professor make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Adjunct Professor in the United States is $103,254 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

However, an Adjunct Professor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $133,219
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $90,568 to $118,939
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $79,017
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Adjunct Professor Salaries

An Adjunct Professor's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Adjunct Professor Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Adjunct Professors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $114,323.
  • California: $113,889.
  • Massachusetts: $112,371.

Top Paying Cities for Adjunct Professors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $130,234
  • San Francisco: $128,808
  • Oakland: $126,094

What Skills Can Increase an Adjunct Professor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 6.45% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Phone Sales (Mentioned in 2.6% Job Postings): Conducting an attempt to sell a particular product or a service to the prospect in the initial conversation via telephones. The process is carried out by a salesperson who speaks with potential clients over the phone and encourages them to buy it.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 6.45%
Phone Sales 2.6%
Programming 1.57%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Adjunct Professor's salary.

  • Functional Design: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Collective Bargaining: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Quality Assurance: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Functional Design $124,937
21%
Collective Bargaining $118,742
15%
Quality Assurance $118,742
15%
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How Education impacts an Adjunct Professor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Adjunct Professors enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Adjunct Professor with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $104,369 and $134,394).

Adjunct Professor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Adjunct Professor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.0%
High School 1.5%
Associates 3.0%
Bachelors 1.5%
Masters 27.3%
Doctorate 68.2%
View as Graph

Adjunct Professor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Adjunct Professor's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$90,568
Average $103,254/year
$118,939
$7,547
Average $8,605/month
$9,912
$1,742
Average $1,986/week
$2,287
$44
Average $50/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $118,939 $9,912 $2,287 $57
Average $103,254 $8,605 $1,986 $50
25th Percentile $90,568 $7,547 $1,742 $44

Most common benefits for Adjunct Professor

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Adjunct Professor

Here are companies hiring for Adjunct Professor and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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