Community college professors are paid to pass their knowledge to students.
Community colleges are postsecondary institutions that offer two-year associate's degrees in a variety of subjects and specialties. Professors at community colleges prepare students for the transition to four-year universities, provide job training and career development. The training for community college professors usually entails a master degree, though employers sometimes hire Ph.D. candidates for competitive positions. Average salaries for community college professors vary depending on factors such as teaching subject and job location.
Function
Similar to their counterparts at four-year universities and professional schools, community college professors teach subjects in areas such as liberal arts, business administration, graphic design and history. Working in specific departments, they may specialize in areas such as marketing or computer animation. Community college professors lecture either during the day or evenings, and facilitate discussions and critical analysis in the classroom. They administer exams, grade students' work and counsel students during class projects. Professors also serve as advisers and help guide students based on their career and educational goals.
Salary Range
Because community colleges are considered lower divisions of four-year institutions, average salaries for junior college professors are lower than their counterparts at public and private universities. The average salary range for postsecondary teachers overall ranged from as low as $30,320 to as high as $129,000 according to a May 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics report. However, junior and community college professors averaged $69,940 annually.
Teaching Subject
Community college professors who teach certain subjects received varying salaries according to the BLS. For example, junior college professors who taught atmospheric, earth, marine and space sciences received an average annual wage of $87,830. Agricultural science professors averaged $64,030 annually. Community college professors teaching computer science reported an average annual wage of $67,020. History professors averaged $65,610 annually.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for community college professors should be positive during the 2008 to 2018 decade, according to the BLS. Employment for college professors is expected to grow by 15 percent due to factors such as population growth within the 18-year-old to 24-year-old demographic. Also, more adults will choose to return to college to update their job skills or earn first degrees. However, job growth may be curbed for community colleges and other public higher education institutions, since these schools rely on local government funding for their budgets. Nevertheless, professionals with master degrees who have training in growing industries including computer technology and business will receive the best job opportunities during this time period.
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