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Virtual Professor Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Virtual Professor information

See Michigan salary details

$24

$58

$68

How much do virtual professor jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for virtual professor in Michigan is $58.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58.27 and $60.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a virtual professor?

A Virtual Professor is an academic instructor who teaches courses online, rather than in a traditional classroom setting. They use digital platforms to deliver lectures, facilitate discussions, assign coursework, and assess student progress. Virtual Professors often interact with students through video calls, forums, and email, making education more accessible to learners worldwide. Their responsibilities also include curriculum development, grading, and providing academic support, all conducted remotely.

How does a virtual professor effectively engage students and foster participation in an online classroom environment?

A Virtual Professor typically uses a variety of interactive tools and strategies to engage students, such as live video lectures, discussion forums, polls, and breakout rooms for group work. Building a sense of community is essential, so professors often encourage regular communication, provide timely feedback, and establish clear expectations for participation. Successful virtual teaching requires adapting traditional in-person teaching methods to the digital format and remaining responsive to students' needs. Professors may also collaborate with instructional designers and IT support to enhance the learning experience.

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

To thrive as a Virtual Professor, you need subject matter expertise, a relevant advanced degree (typically a master's or doctorate), and experience in curriculum development and online instruction. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), video conferencing platforms, and digital assessment tools is essential. Strong communication, adaptability, and time management skills help foster student engagement and navigate the unique challenges of remote teaching. These skills and qualities ensure effective knowledge delivery, student support, and successful learning outcomes in a virtual environment.

What is the difference between Virtual Professor vs Online Instructor?

AspectVirtual ProfessorOnline Instructor
CredentialsTypically requires a doctoral degree or terminal degree in the fieldUsually requires a bachelor's or master's degree, depending on the course
Work EnvironmentPrimarily academic institutions, often with research responsibilitiesVarious platforms, including colleges, training programs, or private companies
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, colleges, and higher education institutionsEducational platforms, online course providers, corporate training
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding academic roles and qualificationsFinding online teaching opportunities

The main difference between a Virtual Professor and an Online Instructor lies in their qualifications, work environment, and employer settings. Virtual Professors typically hold advanced degrees and work within higher education institutions, often engaging in research. Online Instructors may have lower-level degrees and teach courses through various online platforms or corporate training programs. Both roles involve online teaching but differ in scope, credentials, and institutional affiliation.

Are online virtual professors in demand?

Online virtual professors are in increasing demand as educational institutions expand remote learning options. They often require expertise in their subject area, strong communication skills, and familiarity with digital teaching tools, making remote teaching a growing field in higher education and training programs.

How to become a virtual professor?

To become a virtual professor, typically you need a doctoral degree in your subject area, relevant teaching experience, and strong communication skills. Many institutions require proficiency with online teaching platforms and digital tools, and some may prefer prior experience in remote education. Certification in online teaching methods can also enhance your qualifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Professor jobs in Michigan?

The most popular types of Professor jobs in Michigan are:

What cities in Michigan are hiring for Virtual Professor jobs?

Cities in Michigan with the most Virtual Professor job openings:

Infographic showing various Virtual Professor job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 32% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 66% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,481 per year, or $58.9 per hour.

Assistant Professor - Media Psychology

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI • On-site

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago


University Of Michigan rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 147 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

191st of 631 rated colleges and universities


Job description

How to Apply
In addition to applying on careers.umich.edu, applications should be submitted to https://apply.interfolio.com/191179 . Consideration for this position requires the successful submission of both mandatory applications.
Applicants should submit:
  • a letter of application
  • a curriculum vitae
  • a statement of current and future research plans
  • a statement of teaching philosophy and experience
  • a statement of activities that demonstrate leadership and service
  • up to three representative publications or other writings
  • evidence of teaching excellence
  • contact information for three recommenders. Letters will be requested after the first round of review.

In the letter of application, the applicant should elaborate on how they have and/or would support interdisciplinarity, appreciation for research traditions other than their own, and collegiality in a department with a great deal of intellectual diversity.
Job Summary
The Department of Communication and Media at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) seeks to hire a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor to teach and conduct research in media psychology, to begin August 25, 2027.
Responsibilities*
Job duties include research activity, teaching of graduate and undergraduate courses, mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students, and service to the department, school, university, and profession.
Required Qualifications*
A PhD by the start of the appointment is required.
Desired Qualifications*
The preferred candidate will demonstrate an innovative research agenda that advances the understanding of media psychology (i.e., uses, processes and effects) at the individual, community, and/or societal level.
We are particularly interested in applicants who use innovative methods and approaches in their research and teaching, including experiments, surveys, content analysis, meta-analysis, computational methods, psychophysiological methods, neuroimaging or other social scientific techniques. Scholars utilizing a range of methods, and/or who supplement quantitative methods with qualitative approaches, are welcome.
The ideal candidate will provide graduate and undergraduate students with the theoretical and methodological foundations to explore how individuals and groups of people interact with, and are affected by, mediated communication. This may include the processes and effects of media use in relation to a person's identity, attention, stage of development, or other contextual factors; choices for exposure; and how people's emotions, cognition and perceptions interact with media-both as recipients and as active users.
All areas of media psychology will be considered. This could include scholarship on media choice; psychological antecedents and consequences of media use; representations of gender and/or sexuality and their consequences; representations of race and ethnicity and their consequences; media uses and effects among members of understudied and/or marginalized groups; media uses and effects through the life course; media effects on health, risk, and environmental behavior; media effects on cognitive processing and learning; media and children; media and well-being; new and emerging media (e.g., social media, virtual reality, AI, etc.).
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Review of dossiers will begin on September 15, 2026; applications received after September 11, 2026 may not receive full consideration.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Job Detail
Job Opening ID
281792
Working Title
Assistant Professor - Media Psychology
Job Title
ASST PROFESSOR
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Modes of Work
Onsite
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Exempt
Organizational Group
College Of Lsa
Department
LSA Communication and Media
Posting Begin/End Date
8/18/2026 - 9/12/2026
Career Interest
Instructional - Regular

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About University of Michigan

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The University of Michigan (U-M), based in Ann Arbor, MI, US, is one of America's most esteemed institutions in higher education. Established in 1817, it presides in the industry of education and research, providing a range of services including undergraduate, graduate, and professional education programs. Complementing this is an extensive research activity that has significantly contributed to various fields, from healthcare to engineering, humanities to sports. Upholding its mission "to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values", U-M consistently ranks among the top universities globally, a testament to its tradition of excellence in learning and research, and a deep commitment to innovation and discovery.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Ann Arbor, MI, US

Year founded

1817

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