Salaries in Academia

[Anonymous]

I have adjuncted at 2 DC private universities (grad school) and the $7k number is on target. I'm not famous or in a high-paying field either! As the PP said, it is a lot of work for not a lot of money. I work FT and will think hard before I do it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my big, top-tier, private U, humanities pay $8,000 for a semester-long course. Friends have reported being offered as little as $2,000 for a semester-long course at a small private college.

Chronicle of Higher Ed always has a wealth of info, and last I checked they had a very active discussion board for job seekers (you don't have to subscribe to CHE to use that board).

Are you kidding? What school is this? Unless you're famous no adjunct makes that much. I think I was making about $3400 a course before I got tired of being taken advantage of.

Hopkins for an undergrad course. As I said, I think that is the standard fee. A couple years ago it was $6000. That said, I think adjuncting only makes sense for grad students who need teaching experience, or established professionals/retirees who are just doing it for fun.

Grad students, professionals, and retirees covers just about everyone. So I'm not sure I see your point.

Let me restate. Most of the adjuncts I know got their degrees between 2-20 years ago. They are professional adjuncts scraping by on adjunct work while they wait for that amazing tenure track job. If you really want to stay in academia, take that 4/4 in South Dakota that pays nothing-I hear nothing goes a long way in South Dakota. Otherwise, get a job outside of academia and then decide if adjuncting once a year is worth the tiny amount of money you'll make.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have suggestions of finding an adjunct position in DC? I work full time (nonprofit) but would love to teach a class to keep that door open and earn a bit more cash...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have suggestions of finding an adjunct position in DC? I work full time (nonprofit) but would love to teach a class to keep that door open and earn a bit more cash...

What do you teach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have suggestions of finding an adjunct position in DC? I work full time (nonprofit) but would love to teach a class to keep that door open and earn a bit more cash...

What do you teach?

Education and/or psychology (dev focus)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have suggestions of finding an adjunct position in DC? I work full time (nonprofit) but would love to teach a class to keep that door open and earn a bit more cash...

Did you go to a local graduate school? That would probably be the best place to start. Contact your former professors, and even if they aren't looking for adjuncts at your school, they may know of other opportunities at other schools and be willing to provide an introduction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have adjuncted at 2 DC private universities (grad school) and the $7k number is on target. I'm not famous or in a high-paying field either! As the PP said, it is a lot of work for not a lot of money. I work FT and will think hard before I do it again.

I think that's a lot of money for one course!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wroteoes anyone have suggestions of finding an adjunct position in DC? I work full time (nonprofit) but would love to teach a class to keep that door open and earn a bit more cash...



What do you teach?



Education and/or psychology (dev focus)

I hire adjuncts in your field, and frankly, I'm not that interested in anyone who wants to do it for fun or for extra cash. I want to hire people who really care about teaching and are content area experts in the field.

Also, the people quoting $7k a class are absolutely crazy. Nothing except, perhaps, higher physical chemistry classes, pays that rate here.

[Anonymous]

$3400/class GW
$6000/class UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wroteoes anyone have suggestions of finding an adjunct position in DC? I work full time (nonprofit) but would love to teach a class to keep that door open and earn a bit more cash...



What do you teach?



Education and/or psychology (dev focus)

I hire adjuncts in your field, and frankly, I'm not that interested in anyone who wants to do it for fun or for extra cash. I want to hire people who really care about teaching and are content area experts in the field.

Also, the people quoting $7k a class are absolutely crazy. Nothing except, perhaps, higher physical chemistry classes, pays that rate here.

Really? Do you want to see my pay stubs? I'm the PP who has taught grad level courses at 2 private universities in DC. Why would I lie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wroteoes anyone have suggestions of finding an adjunct position in DC? I work full time (nonprofit) but would love to teach a class to keep that door open and earn a bit more cash...



What do you teach?



Education and/or psychology (dev focus)

I hire adjuncts in your field, and frankly, I'm not that interested in anyone who wants to do it for fun or for extra cash. I want to hire people who really care about teaching and are content area experts in the field.

Also, the people quoting $7k a class are absolutely crazy. Nothing except, perhaps, higher physical chemistry classes, pays that rate here.

If you're paying crap money, I guess it's lucky you only hire people who aren't doing it for the money. Note to OP: although most adjuncts are only doing it for the money, probably best not to say "I only want this job for the money" in your interview.

+1 Making more than $7000 (undergrad humanities), and why would I lie?

[Anonymous]

GWU does not pay adjuncts $7000 per class. We pay them closer to $3K. Unless you have a different title (e.g., Visiting Assistant Professor) or have unusual circumstances (e.g., temporarily filling in for a full-time, tenure-track/tenured prof), it's very, very rare to get paid more than $3500/class.

[Anonymous]

I'm just curious: About how many hours does teaching (and preparing for and grading) a semester-long class entail?

I'm thinking 10 hours a week for 15 weeks. So if it pays $3,000 that would be $20 an hour. Is that in the ballpark?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just curious: About how many hours does teaching (and preparing for and grading) a semester-long class entail?

I'm thinking 10 hours a week for 15 weeks. So if it pays $3,000 that would be $20 an hour. Is that in the ballpark?

IME it really varies. Things to take into account:

-taxes, of course

-extra expenses (transportation, parking, clothing, meals, any course materials that aren't reimbursed)

-syllabus prep (best case, you are given a great syllabus to use. For a new prep, I easily spend 40 hours reviewing potential readings, viewing films, arranging the logistics of any out-of-class events, etc.)

-CMS (will you be expected to set up and maintain a course site on Blackboard or another CMS?)

-class prep (at least a couple hours, depends on how fast you work and how well you know the material)

-class time

-office hours (2 hours a week is the expectation at my institution)

-grading (depends on number of students, type of students, and institutional expectations)

-student email (adds up over the course of the semester)

-problem students (if you have one or more problems students, the extra email and meetings can really cut into your time)

-additional responsibilities (at many institutions there will be no additional expectations of adjuncts, in my department adjuncts are expected to show up for at least some events, speakers, etc.)

[Anonymous]

It really varies by school. GU paid $6-$8K per course while GW paid less than half that amount. It also depends on the discipline. The workload is more if you are developing a new course compared to teaching the same course you taught in the past and just updating it.