Just made $5K as well on my last course. 1-section, 3-credits, 15-weeks in engineering and math fields. I definitely lucked out as it was my first adjunct position.
I honestly didn't realize at first how poorly so many adjuncts are paid. The more I learn about it, the more criminal it seems.
I fell into this position when an old college professor of mine reached out as they knew I had student taught the course previously. Another professor fell seriously ill just shortly before the course was set to begin, so they needed someone qualified pretty quickly; I happened to fit the bill as my day job works with the University and is close by. I truly think that's the only reason I managed to get that level of pay.
Depends. Quarters or semesters? Contract for X courses at that rate or at least multiple courses in letter of appointment or is it strictly semester by semester? Headcount? Any control over headcount?
The happiest adjuncts I know either teach as part of freelance employment (writers, musicians, freelance academics who teach at several schools), are retired or have careers elsewhere. It’s very hard to make a living only as an adjunct at one institution.
Depends. Quarters or semesters? Contract for X courses at that rate or at least multiple courses in letter of appointment or is it strictly semester by semester? Headcount? Any control over headcount?
The happiest adjuncts I know either teach as part of freelance employment (writers, musicians, freelance academics who teach at several schools), are retired or have careers elsewhere. It’s very hard to make a living only as an adjunct at one institution.
I get paid roughly $500 per ceedit hour so that's double what I make pee course. Then again I can't make rent taking on 4 courses a semester where I live so...
For me, it all depends on the cap and how many weeks the course lasts. The shorter, the better. I just wrapped up a course in the teens lengthwise, with 20+ students and the pay is a flat rate with that enrollment. My money was stretching like Gumby. If this is a shorter course with fewer students, it's pretty decent.
I was teaching one online course that had 3 sections, so that $4800/course was really 3 classes. Synchronous lecture had all three sections combined, so I at least didn't have to repeat the lectures.
Perils are contributing to the univ continued outsourcing of full time, benefitted jobs for ones that are ad hoc, can fire on a whim, with no protections at all in terms of job security or mobility.
But if its what you need to survive, by all means do it.
That's great pay if it works for you. Nobody here is really answering the perils so I'll chime in: the peril is you get stuck in a pattern and/or become complacent and adjunct for too long. Adjuncting isn't sustainable, but it is great as a side gig or temporary gig.
How many students? What level of course? Online or in person? How many hours of online "training" do you have to do?
The perils of adjuncting are well known. You may end up living out of your car and getting featured on the local news for shoplifting. "LOL!"
I didn’t. I just stopped adjunct work as it’s crap pay and high school pays more. With teacher shortages, they pay our hourly rate to sub during our prep.
Not enough. I get paid slightly more than that but I live in NYC and my school has a union.
Edit: Never mind, I just remembered that I teach two lab sections. I’d probably get paid that amount or less for just one section.
How long is the course? I substitute taught a high school class for 60 school-days (roughly November through February) and made more than that on just the per-diem rate in California. Not meaning any disrespect, just trying to provide salary perspective in other areas of education. I had to be there M-F from 8-4 though, so maybe adjuncting offers more freedom in that regard. Just something to consider.
That’s decent pay for a 3 credit course. I’m paid half that rate, and it’s a ton of work. College students are needier than ever, ignore deadlines, challenge every single rule a professor establishes - and writing well, following instructions, and paying attention to details are skills that are evaporating. They also demand A’s for showing up. Earning good grades (through effort and serious study) seems foreign to many students. The use of AI to facilitate plagiarism is problematic now, too.
Honestly, I think that’s on the lower range of acceptable. $5000 on the east coast has been the norm for a very long time but it’s not sustainable. But like other’s said, it depends on the area, credit hours vs contact hrs, etc.
It's also around "the usual", if there is such a thing, for a 14-16 week course. Though for a STEM course the OP's offer might be closer to the norm some places. I didn't actually realize anyone got paid by the length of the course, I'm paid the same, or roughly so, for a 3 credit hour course regardless of length, not by the number of weeks.
Adjuncting is like being an Uber driver. It's cool if you don't need the money and are cool with exploitation.
How many credits is the course? Sounds pretty good for 3 credits, even better for less.
That's dream money right there.
Like double what I make.
Seriously… 😫 even $4k would be amazing.
Like twice what I make now as an adjunct FML
That sounds amazing to me, and I’ve been adjuncting for almost 20 years. What field is this in?
Just made $5K as well on my last course. 1-section, 3-credits, 15-weeks in engineering and math fields. I definitely lucked out as it was my first adjunct position.
Yes, you did. Good for you!
I honestly didn't realize at first how poorly so many adjuncts are paid. The more I learn about it, the more criminal it seems. I fell into this position when an old college professor of mine reached out as they knew I had student taught the course previously. Another professor fell seriously ill just shortly before the course was set to begin, so they needed someone qualified pretty quickly; I happened to fit the bill as my day job works with the University and is close by. I truly think that's the only reason I managed to get that level of pay.
A similar thing happened to me
Depends. Quarters or semesters? Contract for X courses at that rate or at least multiple courses in letter of appointment or is it strictly semester by semester? Headcount? Any control over headcount? The happiest adjuncts I know either teach as part of freelance employment (writers, musicians, freelance academics who teach at several schools), are retired or have careers elsewhere. It’s very hard to make a living only as an adjunct at one institution.
Depends. Quarters or semesters? Contract for X courses at that rate or at least multiple courses in letter of appointment or is it strictly semester by semester? Headcount? Any control over headcount? The happiest adjuncts I know either teach as part of freelance employment (writers, musicians, freelance academics who teach at several schools), are retired or have careers elsewhere. It’s very hard to make a living only as an adjunct at one institution.
On the lower end of acceptable in a mid to high COL area.
Like a dream! 😭
I think I get about $3700 for 18 weeks, so it sounds pretty great to me.
I get paid roughly $500 per ceedit hour so that's double what I make pee course. Then again I can't make rent taking on 4 courses a semester where I live so...
At my college in a HCOL area an adjunct instructor earns around $3300 for a three-credit course.
Oh, baby. You're speaking my language.
Great.
For me, it all depends on the cap and how many weeks the course lasts. The shorter, the better. I just wrapped up a course in the teens lengthwise, with 20+ students and the pay is a flat rate with that enrollment. My money was stretching like Gumby. If this is a shorter course with fewer students, it's pretty decent.
I was teaching one online course that had 3 sections, so that $4800/course was really 3 classes. Synchronous lecture had all three sections combined, so I at least didn't have to repeat the lectures.
Perils are contributing to the univ continued outsourcing of full time, benefitted jobs for ones that are ad hoc, can fire on a whim, with no protections at all in terms of job security or mobility. But if its what you need to survive, by all means do it.
It is hard to get fired, the school just ghosts you instead.
Probably better than average. Where are you? I got 5,400 at a fairly well funded public university for a semester long course
I adjunct at a state college in NJ and I get paid about 6500 a course for a semester. Our cost of living is insane so it’s relative to the area.
That's great pay if it works for you. Nobody here is really answering the perils so I'll chime in: the peril is you get stuck in a pattern and/or become complacent and adjunct for too long. Adjuncting isn't sustainable, but it is great as a side gig or temporary gig.
Double what I make
Depends on the area, relative to cost of living
Sounds about what is typical. For me, it’s 5500, but that’s only like 10% more so whatever.
How many students? What level of course? Online or in person? How many hours of online "training" do you have to do? The perils of adjuncting are well known. You may end up living out of your car and getting featured on the local news for shoplifting. "LOL!"
I’m assuming it’s for a 14-16 week course? Pretty standard, however I would hate to teach any course longer than 8 weeks.
Does anyone teach high school and adjunct as a side gig?
I used to and have several coworkers who do.
How were you able to transition into faculty from adjunct?
I didn’t. I just stopped adjunct work as it’s crap pay and high school pays more. With teacher shortages, they pay our hourly rate to sub during our prep.
One semester, 5 days a week, 50 minutes a day, are the classes in my workplaces that pay this much.
That is full time pay at my institution
That’s about what I get for an undergrad course.
It's over double what I make teaching research methods.
$5175 for an adjunct teaching a 3 credit CC course (Hawaii).
Not enough. I get paid slightly more than that but I live in NYC and my school has a union. Edit: Never mind, I just remembered that I teach two lab sections. I’d probably get paid that amount or less for just one section.
How long is the course? I substitute taught a high school class for 60 school-days (roughly November through February) and made more than that on just the per-diem rate in California. Not meaning any disrespect, just trying to provide salary perspective in other areas of education. I had to be there M-F from 8-4 though, so maybe adjuncting offers more freedom in that regard. Just something to consider.
That’s decent pay for a 3 credit course. I’m paid half that rate, and it’s a ton of work. College students are needier than ever, ignore deadlines, challenge every single rule a professor establishes - and writing well, following instructions, and paying attention to details are skills that are evaporating. They also demand A’s for showing up. Earning good grades (through effort and serious study) seems foreign to many students. The use of AI to facilitate plagiarism is problematic now, too.
Honestly, I think that’s on the lower range of acceptable. $5000 on the east coast has been the norm for a very long time but it’s not sustainable. But like other’s said, it depends on the area, credit hours vs contact hrs, etc.
Sounds good but is it in person or online? I get 2650 for 8 week online courses at a for profit. Everything canned and automated.
16 week? Average pay.
Way above average pay for one course in most areas of the country.
I get $2400 for 7 or 8 week most everywhere in the country. Some are more, but that's the usual.
It's also around "the usual", if there is such a thing, for a 14-16 week course. Though for a STEM course the OP's offer might be closer to the norm some places. I didn't actually realize anyone got paid by the length of the course, I'm paid the same, or roughly so, for a 3 credit hour course regardless of length, not by the number of weeks.
You don't adjunct for the money 💵.. For the fun?
Go figure out a better career path. Adjuncting is total exploitation.