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Associate Professor Jobs in Encinitas, CA (NOW HIRING)

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Associate Professor information

See Encinitas, CA salary details

$46.7K

$110K

$153.1K

How much do associate professor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate professor in Encinitas, CA is $110,020.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,900.00 and $135,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate professor?

An associate professor teaches at a college or university campus and ranks below a full professor. As an associate professor, you still perform the primary job duties of a full professor, such as interacting with students, grading classroom assignments, assisting students with study techniques, and developing lesson plans. You may also spend part of your career working on research projects and writing articles for academic journals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate professor, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Professor, you need advanced subject matter expertise, a doctoral degree in your field, and a record of research and scholarly publication. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), academic databases, and research software is typically required. Strong communication, mentorship, and organizational skills help foster student engagement and productive collegial relationships. These competencies are essential for effective teaching, impactful research, and meaningful contributions to academic communities.

What are some common challenges faced by associate professors when balancing research, teaching, and service responsibilities?

Associate Professors often juggle multiple responsibilities, including conducting research, teaching courses, mentoring students, and participating in departmental or university service. Balancing these can be challenging, especially when research expectations remain high while teaching loads and committee work increase after promotion. Successful Associate Professors typically develop strong time-management skills, collaborate with colleagues to share best practices, and seek mentorship or support from their academic community. Proactive planning and clear communication with department leadership can also help manage these competing demands.

What is the difference between Associate Professor vs Assistant Professor?

AspectAssociate ProfessorAssistant Professor
Required CredentialsDoctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent), significant research and teaching experienceDoctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent), typically early in academic career
Work EnvironmentUniversity faculty, involved in teaching, research, and serviceUniversity faculty, primarily focused on teaching and beginning research
Employer & Industry UsageHigher education institutions, research universitiesHigher education institutions, research universities

In summary, an Associate Professor is a more senior academic role with extensive research and teaching experience, while an Assistant Professor is an entry-level faculty position focused on developing research and teaching skills.

Do you need a PhD to be an associate professor?

Typically, an associate professor position requires a doctoral degree, such as a PhD, along with significant research, teaching experience, and a strong publication record. While requirements can vary by institution and field, having a PhD is generally essential for this academic rank.

What are the most commonly searched types of Professor jobs in Encinitas, CA?

The most popular types of Professor jobs in Encinitas, CA are:

What cities near Encinitas, CA are hiring for Associate Professor jobs?

Cities near Encinitas, CA with the most Associate Professor job openings:

Infographic showing various Associate Professor job openings in Encinitas, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 66% Full Time, 31% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,020 per year, or $52.9 per hour.

Full-time Assistant or Associate Professor, or Professor of Practice & Academic Program Director ...

National University System

San Diego, CA โ€ข On-site

$74K - $104K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Compensation Range:

Annual Salary: $74,005.00 - $104,310.00

Full-time Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, or Professor of Practice & Academic Program Director (APD) in B.S. Cybersecurity

Hybrid - San Diego, CA

National University is a veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible higher education to adult learners. Today, we educate a student body from across the U.S. and around the globe, with more than 230,000 alumni worldwide. Our three schools and three colleges offer more than 200 accredited and licensed graduate and undergraduate programs. National University holds accreditation through the Western Senior College and Universities Commission (WSCUC).

Position Summary

The Department of Cybersecurity and Technology at National University invites applications for a Full-time Assistant or Associate Professor, Professor of Practice and Academic Program Director in B.S. Cybersecurity . Rank is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of, or potential for excellence in, teaching and scholarship in their field and a commitment to serving the University's adult student body. This position works closely with other faculty within the discipline and administration contributing to programmatic strategies that ensure program quality, student engagement, and success. We are especially looking for a candidate who can contribute to the development and enhancement of our cybersecurity curriculum ensuring it meets the latest industry standards and addresses emerging threats. The ideal candidate should have hands-on knowledge of Linux, Windows, and a variety of cybersecurity tools.

The Academic Program Director (APD) is a full-time faculty member who directs the strategy, operations, and support for the degree program for which this role is responsible. As the primary spokesperson for all program (part-time and full-time) faculty and students, the APD will act as the primary source of information about specific programmatic strategies, needs and daily operations, and initiate and approve changes to ensure program quality, driving student engagement, and success. The APD serves as the lead discipline expert for the program as well as primary contact for multiple stakeholders. This position collaborates with program faculty in support of student success as well as the Director of Assessment to conduct program assessment on a regular basis to ensure the program is meeting the needs of the student and the program's related industries, and where applicable, the programmatic accreditation requirements. This position ensures the incorporation of identified trends or changes into the curriculum, in collaboration with the Director of Curriculum and serves in either a direct or consulting role during course development, updating, and maintenance. The APD meets regularly with the College leadership (Department Chair/Associate Dean and/or Dean) to ensure that the program aligns with University and College goals and priorities.

In lieu of scholarship requirements, if you are selected as the candidate, you may be considered for a Professor of Practice position.

This position is remote. For San Diego-based candidates, the position is hybrid and meets with students twice/monthly for 2.5 hours each session.

Essential Functions

Candidates will be evaluated for their proficiency and potential in teaching, scholarship, and service. The main expectations of this position include:

Teaching

  • Teach and develop online and/or onsite courses in cybersecurity.
  • Maintain andragogical and subject matter expertise in the instructor's field.
  • Create a positive learning environment for diverse learners.
  • Ensure course and program practices align with compliance and accreditation standards.
  • Adhere to the National University's academic integrity policy.

Scholarship

  • Maintain a productive scholarship agenda suitable to a teaching university.
  • Engage in scholarly activities to maintain professional growth and accreditation expectations.
  • Participate in professional development as outlined in faculty policies.

Service

  • Participate in curriculum oversight, shared governance, and the student experience.
  • Serve on the university committees and engage in community activities that promote program outreach and university goals.
  • Participate in program meetings and advisory boards to integrate best practices and strategic initiatives.
  • Create, modify, and update BS Cybersecurity course material.

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

Education & Experience

  • Master's degree in Cybersecurity or a related discipline required to qualify for the Professor of Practice rank.
  • Terminal degree in Cybersecurity or a related discipline required to qualify for Assistant Professor and Associate Professor ranks.
  • A minimum of 5 years of full-time faculty experience in higher education is required to qualify for the Associate Professor rank.
  • A minimum of 10 years of professional experience, evidence of significant professional achievement, and a minimum of 3 years of teaching/training experience required to qualify for the Professor of Practice rank.
  • At least 2+ years of industry experience in cybersecurity required.
  • Industry certifications such as: CISSP, SANS GIAC, CEH, CISM, CISA required.
  • Leadership or program management experience strongly preferred.
  • Experience with the National Security Agency Centers of Academic Excellence programs preferred.
  • Active involvement in the cybersecurity community preferred.

Required special conditions of employment include:

  • Background check.
  • Travel at least once annually to attend the annual Commencement ceremony (if held onsite).
  • Travel to attend cybersecurity-related events (typically 3-5 events/annually).

This position will be posted until filled.

For full consideration, interested candidates should provide the following:

  • A cover letter that includes a list of industry-related certifications, teaching experience, and industry experience.
  • A curriculum vita
  • Statement of teaching experience online and/or onsite

#LI-HYBRID

Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate's qualifications, skills, and competencies. Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. Base pay is one component of National University's total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the "whole you" with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family. For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For part-time positions, please click here.

National University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a mix of highly talented, innovative, and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University.