A Comprehensive Guide to NYU Adjunct Professor Salaries and Benefits
Serving as an adjunct professor at New York University (NYU) can be a rewarding experience. Understanding the compensation, benefits, and working conditions associated with this role is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of the salary structure, benefits packages, and working conditions for adjunct professors at NYU, based on the latest available information.
Compensation (Pay)
NYU adjuncts are primarily compensated on a per-contact-hour basis, where a contact hour typically represents 50 or 60 minutes spent in the classroom. A significant development is the introduction of Administrative Pay, which recognizes and compensates for work performed outside of classroom hours. The following sections break down the various components of adjunct compensation at NYU.
Raise Schedule
Adjuncts at NYU can anticipate consistent pay increases through the academic year 2027-28. These raises are applied retroactively, starting from the fall 2022 semester. The raise schedule is structured as follows:
- 2022-23: 34 percent
- 2023-24: 3.5 percent
- 2024-25: 3.5 percent
- 2025-26: 3.75 percent
- 2026-27: 6 percent
- 2027-28: 6 percent
Administrative Service Payment (Admin Pay)
Starting in the fall of 2022, adjuncts receive administrative pay for each course they teach per semester. The amount varies based on the credit value of the course:
- Non-credit, 0-credit, 1-credit, or 2-credit: $1,000
- 3-credit: $1,500
- 4-credit: $2,000
In the 2022-23 academic year, this admin pay was disbursed at the end of the semester, with retroactive application to the beginning of the fall 2022 semester. From the fall of 2023 onward, admin pay is distributed in installments throughout the semester. It's important to note that admin pay is subject to the same raise schedule as contact hour pay.
Read also: Adjunct Teaching Guide
Contact Hour Rates
The contract specifies minimum pay rates per contact hour, which vary based on the nature of the course being taught.
Lecture, Lab, and Seminar Contact Hour Rates:
- 2022-23: $200
- 2023-24: $206.99
- 2024-25: $214.24
- 2025-26: $222.27
- 2026-27: $235.61
- 2027-28: $249.75
If an adjunct's existing pay rate for a lecture, lab, or seminar course was already above the minimum, their pay was increased by 8 percent in the first year, followed by the standard raise schedule.
Studio and Performing Arts Contact Hour Rates:
- 2022-23: $171.52
- 2023-24: $191.67
- 2024-25: $214.24
- 2025-26: $222.27
- 2026-27: $235.61
- 2027-28: $249.75
Similar to lecture rates, adjuncts teaching studio courses who were already paid above the minimum received an 8 percent increase in the first year, followed by the standard raise schedule.
Individual, Group, or Ensemble Lesson Contact Hour Rates:
- 2022-23: $138.02
- 2023-24: $142.85
- 2024-25: $147.85
- 2025-26: $153.39
- 2026-27: $162.60
- 2027-28: $172.35
Adjuncts teaching lessons above the minimum rate also received an initial 8 percent increase, followed by the standard raise schedule.
Independent Study Rates (per credit, per student, per semester):
- 2022-23: $519.48
- 2023-24: $537.66
- 2024-25: $556.48
- 2025-26: $577.35
- 2026-27: $611.99
- 2027-28: $648.71
The same principle applies to independent study rates: an 8 percent initial increase for those above the minimum, followed by the standard raise schedule.
Read also: Rewards of Being an Adjunct Professor
Non-Credit Contact Hour Rates:
- 2022-23: $132.66
- 2023-24: $137.30
- 2024-25: $142.11
- 2025-26: $147.44
- 2026-27: $156.28
- 2027-28: $165.66
Again, adjuncts above the minimum rate received an 8 percent increase initially, followed by the standard raise schedule.
Tutoring:
- 2022-23: $65
- 2023-24: $67.28
- 2024-25: $69.63
- 2025-26: $72.24
- 2026-27: $76.58
- 2027-28: $81.17
The same 8 percent plus standard raise schedule applies to tutoring rates.
Gallatin Rates:
Gallatin School offers various roles with specific rates:
(a) Gallatin Internship Supervision (per student, per semester):
- 2022-23: $240 (first credit); $110 (each additional credit)
- 2023-24: $248.40 (first credit); $113.85 (each additional credit)
- 2024-25: $257.09 (first credit); $117.83 (each additional credit)
- 2025-26: $266.74 (first credit); $122.25 (each additional credit)
- 2026-27: $282.74 (first credit); $129.59 (each additional credit)
- 2027-28: $299.70 (first credit); $137.36 (each additional credit)
(b) Gallatin Primary Academic Advisor (per student per semester):
- 2022-23: $540
- 2023-24: $558.90
- 2024-25: $578.46
- 2025-26: $600.15
- 2026-27: $636.16
- 2027-28: $674.33
Summer Semesters: Advisors are paid at 50 percent of the student advisement rate for any student enrolled in the upcoming fall semester.
(c) Gallatin Colloquia (adjunct committee member, panelist):
- 2022-23: $320
- 2023-24: $331.20
- 2024-25: $342.79
- 2025-26: $355.65
- 2026-27: $376.99
- 2027-28: $399.60
(d) Gallatin Thesis Advisor (per student defense, per semester):
- 2022-23: $850
- 2023-24: $879.75
- 2024-25: $910.54
- 2025-26: $944.69
- 2026-27: $1,001.37
- 2027-28: $1,061.45
(e) Gallatin Thesis Committee (per defense, per semester):
- 2022-23: $350
- 2023-24: $362.25
- 2024-25: $374.93
- 2025-26: $388.99
- 2026-27: $412.33
- 2027-28: $437.07
(f) Gallatin Tutorials (minimum rates per credit per student per semester):
- 2022-23: $538.17
- 2023-24: $557.01
- 2024-25: $576.50
- 2025-26: $598.12
- 2026-27: $634.01
- 2027-28: $672.05
For all Gallatin roles, if an adjunct was paid above the minimum rate, their pay was increased by 8 percent in the first year, followed by the standard raise schedule.
Read also: Adjunct Professor at HBCUs: A Guide
Silver School of Social Work Field Learning Supervision:
Faculty Practice Course Instructors are paid at the contact hour rate for credit courses. Adjuncts appointed as both a Faculty Practice Course Instructor and Faculty Field Learning Instructor for the same course get one additional contact hour per week. Adjuncts with a standalone Faculty Field Learning Instructor appointment receive 42 contact hours for eligibility for health insurance and are paid one day per week:
- 2022-23: $381.44 per day
- 2023-24: $394.79 per day
- 2024-25: $408.61 per day
- 2025-26: $423.94 per day
- 2026-27: $449.37 per day
- 2027-28: $476.33 per day
If an adjunct's pay was above the new minimum rate, their pay was increased by 8 percent in the first year and then follow the raise schedule.
College of Nursing Clinical Instruction (per contact hour):
- 2022-23: $148.32
- 2023-24: $178.26
- 2024-25: $214.24
- 2025-26: $222.27
- 2026-27: $235.61
- 2027-28: $249.75
If an adjunct's pay was above the new minimum rate, their pay was increased by 8 percent in the first year and then follow the raise schedule.
Advising and Mentoring for Masters Thesis and Capstone Thesis (per thesis, per semester):
- 2022-23: $850
- 2023-24: $879.75
- 2024-25: $910.54
- 2025-26: $944.69
- 2026-27: $1,001.37
- 2027-28: $1,061.45
If an adjunct's pay was above the new minimum rate, their pay was increased by 8 percent in the first year and then follow the raise schedule.
Other Academic Duties
These duties encompass a range of responsibilities, including evaluations, auditions, advisement, portfolio reviews, mandatory meetings, university, school, or department trainings, learning new educational teaching platforms and or technologies, and similar assignments.
Other Academic Duties paid on hourly basis:
- 2022-23: $65
- 2023-24: $67.28
- 2024-25: $69.63
- 2025-26: $72.24
- 2026-27: $76.58
- 2027-28: $81.17
If an adjunct's pay was above the new minimum rate, their pay was increased by 8 percent in the first year and then follow the raise schedule.
For Other Academic Duties not paid on hourly basis, minimum rates will be increased by the following increase to the adjunctâs previous rate:
- 2022-23: 8 percent
- 2023-24: 3.5 percent
- 2024-25: 3.5 percent
- 2025-26: 3.75 percent
- 2026-27: 6 percent
- 2027-28: 6 percent
Course Development and Course Conversion
Adjuncts may also be compensated for developing new courses or converting existing courses to an online format.
Starting in fall 2022, the minimum rate for Course Development is:
- Credit course (in any format): $1,901.97
- Non-Credit Course (in any format): $642.32 for 28 contact hours or less; $1,309.63 for more than 28 contact hours
Both the adjunct faculty and the University must agree, in writing, that the adjunct has been engaged to develop a specific course, and payment shall not be due until the work has been completed.
Starting in fall 2022, minimum rate for Course Conversion is:
- Credit course (in any format): $1,810
- Non-Credit Course (in any format): $595 for 28 contact hours or less; $1,215 for more than 28 contact hours
Course Conversion is the conversion of a course taught in an in-person format to an on-line format. An approved form must be completed by both the adjunct and the University in order for an adjunct to be eligible for Course Conversion pay.
Annual increases to both Course Development and Course Conversion follow the Raise Schedule.
Longevity Pay
Adjuncts who worked during 2021-2022 received a one-time payment of $140 for each previous year they worked for at least two semesters, with a maximum bonus payment of $1,400. Going forward, adjuncts will receive a $1,500 longevity bonus every five years they work at least two semesters a year, or after 20 consecutive semesters.
COVID Pay
NYU provided a one-time payment to adjuncts in recognition of their service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The payment was the greatest of the following:
- $2,000 to an adjunct faculty member who, between March 2020 and January 2022, had been a member of the bargaining unit and taught any course, for credit or not; or
- 3 percent of an adjunctâs adjunct compensation for academic year 2020-21 to any adjunct faculty member who, between September 2020 and August 2021, had been a member of the bargaining unit and taught any course, for credit or not, up to a maximum of $5,000; or
- 3 percent of an adjunctâs adjunct compensation for academic year 2021-22 to any adjunct faculty member who, between September 2021 and August 2022, had been a member of the bargaining unit and taught any course, for credit or not, up to a maximum of $5,000.
This one-time payment was subject to legal deductions and union dues. It was not included in the base rate and was not used for calculating any benefits.
Benefits
Beyond compensation, NYU offers several benefits to its adjunct professors.
Health Insurance
After one year of employment, adjuncts can apply annually for health insurance through NYU's United Healthcare plans. Subsidies are available starting with fall 2023 sign-ups for coverage beginning January 1, 2024.
The level of subsidy depends on the number of contact hours taught:
- Minimum of 40 contact hours (or 75 hours of individualized instruction or tutoring): 50 percent of the cost of the adjunct's coverage, and 30 percent for the adjunct's family members.
- Minimum of 56 contact hours (or 150 hours of individual instruction or tutoring): 60 percent of the cost of the adjunct's coverage, and 50 percent for the adjunct's family members.
- Minimum of 126 contact hours (or 225 hours of individual instruction or tutoring (75 hours in two semesters)): 80 percent of the cost of the adjunct's coverage, and 55 percent for the adjunct's family members.
Eligibility for insurance coverage is determined on a "look back" basis. For instance, teaching conducted in 2022-2023 determines eligibility for coverage starting January 1, 2024. Adjuncts applying for insurance must certify that they are not eligible for subsidized group health insurance through other employment.
Annuity Plan (Retirement)
Starting in 2024, NYU automatically contributes 5 percent of each adjunctâs annual pay to a retirement plan in December of each year. The university also matches additional contributions made by the adjunct, up to 5 percent of their annual pay.
Adjuncts are eligible after:
- One year if they work more than 126 contact hours (or 225 hours of individual instruction or tutoring), with a minimum of 168 contact hours if itâs their first year.
- Two years if they work more than 126 contact hours in both those years (or 150 hours of individual instruction or tutoring).
- Three years if they work 40-126 contact hours (or 75 hours of individual instruction or tutoring) each year.
Unpaid Time Off does not interrupt eligibility.
Professional Development Fund
NYU contributes $200,000 annually to a professional development fund. This fund supports activities like attending academic conferences. The fund is divided among schools based on the number of adjuncts employed. A union-university committee guides the distribution, with 50 percent of school funds available each semester. Adjuncts can apply for up to $1,250 per year, starting on the first day of the fall semester. Any unapproved funds from the fall are made available in the spring.
Other Benefits
Adjuncts have access to the Wage Works Commuter Program, Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Support, and Work Life Support Programming. Starting in 2023, they are also offered Working Family Solutions -- Bright Horizons and the Health Advocate program.
Working Conditions
The working conditions for adjuncts at NYU have also seen improvements.
Appointments
The winter semester is now recognized as an independent semester in the academic year. Starting in fall 2023, adjuncts and tutors who are not eligible for Article X reappointments receive a letter of appointment at least 14 days before the semester begins. These letters include:
- Adjunct name and N-number
- School and department
- Semester and academic year
- Course name and number
- Scheduled course meeting day and time
- Contact hour rate
- Contact hour pay frequency
- Reference to the sick and safe leave policy
In fall 2024, the letters will also include:
- Expected number of contact hours
- Category of compensation
- The adjunctâs supervisor
- How to check the expected enrollment cap
- The expected teaching modality
Course Cancellation
Starting in the fall 2023 semester, if a fall or spring credit course is canceled 14 or fewer days before the first day of the semester, the adjunct will be paid 20 percent of the compensation for the course preparation. Non-credit course cancellations will be 10 percent.
Additional Improvements
The new agreement includes several other gains: a $100,000 technology reimbursement fund, increases for course development and course conversion, winter semesters count toward benefits, shorter probations, no limits on the number of courses you can teach, more opportunities for unpaid time off, a 191 percent raise for independent study, 100-276 percent raises for Gallatin duties, 78 percent raises for Masters Thesis and Capstone, and $65 an hour for defined other duties.
Parity
Starting now, and achieving equal pay after three years, clinical nurses and adjuncts who teach studio classes in art and performance will receive additional raises until they are paid at the standard lecture rate, correcting an 18-year imbalance.
Reappointments
All adjuncts receive detailed appointment letters. Reappointment rights accrue faster -- two years for most -- and include stronger protections against low enrollment and curriculum change.
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