Published
Typically, per semester. For the course, all of it. And a per-credit-hour rate means you will not be getting any additional pay for all the hours you will spend reading and grading paperwork. Adjunct teaching typically pays even worse than being a full-time faculty member. That's kinda the point (why schools like using adjunct faculty so much -- they can pay them peanuts).
That's close to the national average for adjunct faculty. It's no way to earn a living ... but it can be an OK way to pick up a little extra cash IF (and that's a big if) there is not much work involved in teaching the course.
I have taught some courses as an adjunct for which I was terribly underpaid given how much work was involved. But I am teaching one now that has almost no work involved at all. It's online and there are very few assignments to grade and the students are asking me almost no questions. I'd feel guilty about taking the money except that I have been underpaid before.
Yes, per semester. A recent study showed that the system can't pay a reasonable rate to adjuncts. Read it here Study says too costly to pay adjuncts more.
Being an adjunct is a great way to get experience, but not to make a living. Another study showed that it takes 4-40 hours to produce 1 hour of effective education. If you can find a class and teach it forever, that will be worthwhile. But taking new classes will kill you in prep time.
Where I work, it's $800 per credit. My CNA class is a 4 credit class; so it's $3200 per semester. Some semesters are module classes meaning they may be only 8 weeks long or it could be a traditional 12 week semester. The clinical instructor gets 1 or maybe 2 credits of that which is $800-$1600. (If there is a T.A., that's 0.5 credits s/he earns.) The CNA instructor gets the other 2-3 credits. I also offer non-credit CNA classes. Those are paid hourly at $25 for the CNA instructor (Which has to be an RN) and $20 for the clinical instructor (which is usually an LPN). If an RN does clinicals, it's $25 an hour.
As a CNA Coordinator, I have to teach one 12 week credit class a semester. I get zero credit money; just my usual salary. If I teach another credit class, I do get that adjunct wage of 2 credits. The other 2 credits are split up between the two clinical instructors.
sheronep, MSN, RN
171 Posts
I am sure this topic has been exhausted but I have a question.
Recently I saw a job posting for adjunct faculty. It stated that the pay was 800 per credit hour.
My question: Lets say it's a 3 credit course. 2400 per semester? per month? bi-monthly?
Thanks in advace
Liz