How much do adjuncts actually get paid? If you’ve tried to Google it, you’ve probably found a maze of vague numbers, huge ranges, or confusing job postings that don’t tell the whole story. The truth is, adjunct pay depends on your institution, your location, your contract, and how you teach.

This guide walks you through:

• How adjunct pay is set
• Where to find pay rates
• How to estimate your real pay (so you can decide if adjunct teaching works for you)
• Tips on how to maximize your hourly rate

Quick Takeaways

• There is no single national rate. Pay is set by each institution or system, often through HR schedules or union contracts.
• Adjunct pay is usually quoted per credit hour or per course.
• Your actual hourly rate depends on how many sections you stack and how efficient you are at prepping, grading, and supporting your students.
• The best sources for pay information are: official HR pages, collective bargaining agreements, and recent job postings.

Variables That Affect Adjunct Pay

1. Institution type: Community colleges often pay less than universities. Private colleges vary widely.
2. Location: Higher cost of living areas and cities with strong union presence often pay more.
3. Course format: Labs, online courses, or upper-division classes may pay differently.
4. Union contracts: In some states, adjunct pay is tied to collective bargaining agreements.
5. Degree level: A master’s vs. a PhD can move you into different pay “steps” or “levels.”
6. Experience: Years of service can add steps, but not at all institutions.

Find Out Pay Before You Apply

Talk to current adjuncts: Sometimes rates aren’t posted anywhere online.
Check official HR pages: Search “adjunct faculty pay” + college name.
Look at union contracts: Many are public PDFs with pay tables.
Read job postings: They often list the per-course or per-credit rate.

How to Estimate Your Actual Hourly Rate

Since most colleges pay per credit hour or per course, which includes only active teaching time, your actual hourly rate depends on how much time it takes you to prep, grade, and support your students outside of the classroom. Use the following information to calculate your actual hourly rate.

1. Add up your time per course:
   • Class time per term (e.g., 3 hours per week)
   • Prep time (e.g., 1 hour per week)
   • Grading and feedback (e.g., 2 hours per week)
   • Student email and office hours (e.g., 2 hours per week)
   • Setup time at the start of term (e.g., 10 hours per course)
   • Total weekly time per class = 8 hours a week (plus 10 before the semester starts)
     • Note: This is highly variable. For example, newer classes will take more time to prep, writing-heavy classes take longer to grade. These are numbers based on my own experience teaching psychology courses.
2. Use the formula:
   Actual hourly rate = total course pay ÷ total hours per course
   • Example: $28.99 hourly rate = $4,000 ÷ 138 hrs (8 hrs a week x 16 weeks + 10 hrs prep at start)

How to Increase Your Hourly Rate

My actual hourly rate is closer to $60. As an experienced adjunct, here are techniques I use to optimize my time and increase my hourly rate:

• Teach multiple sections of the same course (reduces prep time significantly)
• Use self-grading where appropriate
• Have templates for more detailed feedback
• Batch prep your work
• Have many FAQs in your syllabus and course site to reduce repeated emails
• Many institutions will pay for office hours (set to a limit) or personal development (ask your chair)

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Final word

Pay is only one piece of the decision. Consider commute time, course format, grading load, and how the schedule fits the rest of your life. When you stack the right sections, streamline your grading, and build a repeatable teaching system, your actual hourly rate goes up and your stress goes down.

Not sure if adjuncting is worth it?
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