Adjunct Professor Jobs in California
Adjunct Professor jobs in California are concentrated in community colleges, California State University campuses, and University of California system schools, with demand for instructors across liberal arts, STEM, healthcare education, and business disciplines at every experience level. The most active hiring metros are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where institutions such as the Los Angeles Community College District, California State University system, and UC San Diego maintain large and recurring adjunct pools. In-demand specialties include nursing and allied health instruction, computer science, and early childhood education. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Adjunct Professor JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 66+ Adjunct Professor jobs









Position overview
Position title: Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery FacultyApplication Window
Open date: September 16, 2026
Next review date: Sunday, Oct 18, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Thursday, Sep 16, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery within the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego and Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego are committed to academic excellence within the faculty, staff, and student body and are recruiting for Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Responsibilities will include patient care, teaching, and research at Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego and satellite locations.
The appropriate series and appointment at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level will be based on the candidate’s background and experience.
A link to full descriptions of each series is provided for your review:
HS Clinical Professor (APM-278)
Clinical X Professor (APM-275)
In-Residence Professor (APM-270)
Adjunct Professor (APM-280)
Appointments may require candidates to be self-funded.
If appointed to a title covered by the Health Sciences Compensation Plan, the appointee should be aware that there are limitations on outside professional activities, and clinical moonlighting is expressly prohibited. Additional information can be found here: Health Sciences Compensation Plan (APM-671)
Department: https://ortho.ucsd.edu/
Hospital: http://www.rchsd.org/
Qualifications
Candidates must have a DO, MD or equivalent, or an MD/PhD in health-related fields.
Candidates must have completed an ACGME-accredited orthopaedic surgery residency training program.
Candidates must be board-certified or board-eligible in Orthopaedic Surgery.
Candidates must have or be eligible for a California medical license or equivalent certification/permit as determined by the California Medical Board.
Candidates must have completed a fellowship program in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery by the time of the start of the appointment.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Misc / Additional (Optional)
- 3 required (contact information only)
Help contact: faz003@health.ucsd.edu
About UC San Diego
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
As a university employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all of its university-controlled properties.
The UC San Diego Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available online at: https://www.police.ucsd.edu/docs/annualclery.pdf. This report provides crime and fire statistics, as well as institutional policy statements & procedures. Contact the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4361 if you want to obtain paper copies of this report.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
Click for more information on Assembly Bill-810
Click for more information on Senate Bill-791
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH]
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination]
Job location
See All 66 Adjunct Professor Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Adjunct Professor JobsAdjunct Professor Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Adjunct Professor Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- UC San Diego50

- University of Southern California5

- UC Davis4

- Los Rios Community College District2

- West Coast University1

What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in adjunct professor jobs across California.
- Master's degree or higher in the subject area being taught
- Demonstrated college-level teaching experience in the relevant discipline
- Strong subject-matter expertise supported by professional or research credentials
- Ability to develop and deliver curriculum aligned with California community college standards
- Commitment to serving California's diverse undergraduate and continuing-education student populations
- Familiarity with learning management systems and hybrid or online course delivery tools
Adjunct Professor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a adjunct professor in California?
Becoming an adjunct professor in California requires at minimum a master's degree in the discipline you want to teach, though doctoral credentials are expected at four-year institutions. California community colleges follow hiring criteria set by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, which typically mandates the master's degree or its equivalent in documented professional experience for vocational and technical fields. Applications go directly to individual district human resources offices, which maintain adjunct pools and call instructors as enrollment demands arise.
Which companies hire adjunct professors in California?
Employers hiring adjunct professors in California right now include UC San Diego, University of Southern California, and UC Davis, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's 116-college community college system and the CSU and UC networks collectively represent the largest and most consistent source of adjunct openings in the state.
Which California cities have the most adjunct professor jobs?
San Diego, Los Angeles, and Davis lead California for adjunct professor openings. Los Angeles anchors the list because of the Los Angeles Community College District's ten campuses and the concentration of private universities in the region, while San Francisco and San Diego reflect the Bay Area's large research university presence and San Diego's extensive community college and military-affiliated education infrastructure that generates steady part-time faculty demand.
Are there remote adjunct professor jobs in California?
Yes, and more than many fields. About 100% of adjunct professor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the broad adoption of online instruction across community colleges and four-year institutions following the expansion of distance education programs. Fully remote positions are most common in general education subjects such as English composition, introductory psychology, and business writing, while lab-based science and studio art courses continue to require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a adjunct professor in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to California community college adjunct pools before completing your graduate degree, since many districts accept applicants who are close to finishing a master's program and will place them on a waitlist. Large districts such as the Los Angeles Community College District and Foothill-De Anza Community College District regularly onboard first-time instructors into basic skills and introductory courses. Gaining experience as a teaching assistant, tutoring center staff member, or workforce training facilitator through a California adult school or regional occupational program strengthens an application significantly.
Where can I find and apply to adjunct professor jobs in California?
You can find and apply to adjunct professor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across community colleges, CSU and UC campuses, and private institutions. Search the listings for roles that match your subject area and experience, then apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 66 Adjunct Professor Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Adjunct Professor Jobs