How Much Do Community College Professors Make?
The opportunity to earn one of the higher salaries accessible to educators is only one of the many potential personal and professional advantages that community college professor positions can provide. A community college professor’s salary is influenced by a variety of elements, including their amount of experience, their field of specialization, and their location. The desire to educate and the desire to earn a wage that will support their academic pursuits are two of the main reasons community college teachers choose this line of work.
How Much Do Community College Professors Make?
There is a community college in almost every large and mid-sized town in the United States. The need for community college teachers will be high because these institutions are expanding annually and will need more full-time lecturers. Community colleges draw students because of its inexpensive costs, softer admissions requirements, and emphasis on preparing students for four-year universities.
The majority of community colleges prefer people with prior teaching experience and demand that teachers have at least a master’s degree in the subject matter they would be teaching. Professors at community colleges earn a range of salaries depending on their academic specialization, location, and degree level. As the professor gains tenure and more years of experience, their income will increase.
Compared to their counterparts at four-year universities, professors at community colleges place a greater emphasis on educating students and less on research and writing. It is not necessary for instructors to publish widely in order to be granted tenure, which is frequently granted after only a few years of teaching.
Professors in colleges, including those at community colleges, make an average of $54,542 per year when they work full-time. In many community colleges, professors are referred to as instructors regardless of their tenure status rather than being ranked academically, whereas in other institutions, titles are used to denote specialization.
The average hourly wage for adjunct professors, who are part-time college lecturers who are not eligible for tenure, is $44.43. The average annual salary for assistant professors, who are typically just starting their tenure-track careers, is $59,539, but the average annual salary for associate professors, who are typically tenured or on the tenure-track, is $82,205.
Professors at community colleges can raise their potential salaries by obtaining postgraduate degrees and experience in highly sought-after fields. This can include subjects that the majority of students must take, such arithmetic and English, as well as concentrations like engineering and social sciences. Community college teachers who work part-time at several different institutions or who also have another employment in their area may see a difference in their pay.
What do community college professors do?
An academic staff or faculty member at a two-year junior college or vocational school is a community college professor. They provide instruction for courses that students can use to fulfill requirements for an associate’s degree or other credentials of a similar nature. Though some professors also conduct their own research, most of these teachers spend the majority of their time in the classroom preparing lessons, composing assignments, or mentoring students. In addition, community college professors aid students in getting ready to transfer to a four-year institution or enter the industry right away.
Outlook
According to the BLS, employment of professors at community colleges is expected to increase by 15% between 2016 and 2026. The expected growth rate for all vocations is lower than this growth rate.
More people will pursue training and education in the areas and specialities with the highest employment demand when job availability changes across various economic sectors. As a result, there will be a greater need for more academics in these fields.
Community college professors claim that their interactions with students are more personal and that they place a greater emphasis on teaching than on conducting research or writing books and articles. The tenure track is often shorter in a two-year college, even though a community college professor’s pay may be less modest than that of a comparable teacher at a four-year university.
The need for teachers should rise as more students attend community institutions for higher education and specialized training. The employment rate of postsecondary teachers, including community college professors, will increase 11% from 2018 to 2028, according to predictions from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared to a measly 5% anticipated growth for all occupations.
Anyone interested in becoming a professor at a community college should examine the specific job prospects available in their profession since certain disciplines may have more career chances than others. Community college instructors might advance in their careers by looking for a place on the tenure track.
Benefits of being a community college professor
Availability of academic resources
A wide range of academic resources are available to college professors, including the campus library, journal subscriptions, conferences, academic panels, and other events. By utilizing school resources, a lot of community college lecturers can further their own knowledge.
Dynamic workplace
Professors at community colleges frequently work with a diverse range of students, from those who have just graduated from high school to those who are pursuing degrees later in life. In order to accommodate the interests of both students and professors, they also have the chance to teach various course kinds. Professors can establish a dynamic work environment that improves their job satisfaction and have a great deal of control over how they teach their classes.
Community effects
Community college professors have the opportunity to significantly influence a student’s academic and professional performance. They frequently help others gain the knowledge and skills necessary to change occupations while teaching young people in their community important life skills. Professors at community colleges build relationships with their students and encourage others to get the most out of their education.
Independence
Community college teachers can obtain tenure considerably more quickly than their counterparts at four-year institutions, and without having to adhere to rigid rules for submitting research. Professors at community colleges exercise a significant degree of autonomy in how they organize their classes and the elective courses they choose to offer.
How to Become a Community College Professor
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
An aspirant professor at a community college must first get a bachelor’s degree. This degree could be in a variety of subjects, but it should aid students in achieving their professional objective of becoming teachers of a certain subject. A student who plans to teach college-level biology, for instance, might major in biology or at the very least obtain a degree in a life science. Bachelor’s degree programs can be obtained on-campus or online and typically last four years. One of the educational prerequisites for community college professorships is a bachelor’s degree.
Earn a Master’s Degree
The majority of community college instructors only need a master’s degree, unlike those at four-year colleges. Depending on the subject and/or if it is a part-time role, a master’s degree may also be adequate for some teaching positions at four-year universities.
Community college professor candidates should work for a master’s degree in the subject area they intend to teach. Consider a Master of Arts in Mathematics with a community college teaching specialization, for instance, if you want to learn how to become a math professor at a community college. A thesis may be required for master’s degree programs, which typically last two years to complete. In addition to conventional, on-campus education, several master’s degree programs are also offered online.
Some students may decide to pursue doctoral study in their field of interest to be more competitive, even though it is not typically required at the community college level. As many four-year colleges require professors to hold a PhD in their field of expertise, this would also enable professors to transfer to a four-year institution in the future if they so choose.
Obtain a certification or work experience
Some community college teachers may need to have prior job experience or professional certification in their industry depending on the subject they teach. For instance, individuals in the health sector might need practical experience, such as prior work as a dental hygienist, in order to teach. Another illustration is a college that favors instructors of subjects like accounting who first complete the certification process to become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs).
Start your teaching career at a community college
Community colleges and other educational institutions are searching for part-time lecturers. You can begin working as an adjunct, or part-time, instructor, at a community college. After working for a while as a part-time or adjunct instructor with the junior college or community college, you may then rise to a full-time position with the institution. Alternately, you may just apply for a full-time position.
For each course they teach, professors are normally in charge of developing lesson plans, assigning homework, and being available to students. In order to give students up-to-date information, it is crucial for professors to continue learning about new advancements in their profession even while they are lecturing.
Conclusion
Becoming a community college professor is an excellent career choice. The pay is good, and you’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of your students. As a community college professor, you’ll have the chance to help students prepare for career success by teaching them valuable skills and providing them with support through their educational journey.
As compared to other careers in the education field, this one offers higher pay and job security. In addition, it offers a great deal of flexibility because you are not required to work full time and there are many opportunities for part time work. As a community college professor, you will have the opportunity to teach virtually any type of class.