The difference between an adjunct and a full professor is the difference between a Temp and a rockstar developer. Adjuncts are a cost for the university, their

The difference between an adjunct and a full professor is the difference between a Temp and a rockstar developer. Adjuncts are a cost for the university, their salary is a liability on the budget line. Professors are a net positive. They have high salaries but they bring in millions of dollars in grants and attract talented students who can be paid worse than adjuncts (and teach classes). Adjuncts are space fillers. When a university can't goad a professor, post-doc, or grad student to teach the 101 class they farm it out to a Adjunct. The skills needed to teach the entry level courses are basic, so there is a wide field of individuals who can fill that role. As a result the pay is not great.