This study analyzed academic work, job satisfaction and job stress of full-time non-tenure-track (FTNT) and full-time tenure-track (FTT) faculty within the changing academic environments of South Korea and Japan. The data were collected from the Academic Profession in the Knowledge-based Society (APIKS) Survey in 2018. By employing both t-tests and OLS regression analyses, the study identifies key similarities and differences in workloads, research performance, job satisfaction and job stress between the two countries. FTNT faculty in both contexts dedicate more time to research compared to their FTT counterparts, driven by performance-based management systems that emphasize research output. However, in Japan, FTT faculty demonstrate significantly higher research performance, while no such difference is observed in South Korea. The findings also reveal that FTNT faculty report lower job satisfaction than FTT faculty in both countries, though the difference is statistically significant only in South Korea. Job stress is similarly higher among Korean FTNT faculty, reflecting the precariousness of short-term contracts and intense performance pressures. In contrast, Japan’s relatively stable employment conditions mitigate some of these challenges. The findings contribute to understanding the challenges faced by FTNT faculty in East Asia and offer valuable insights for policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to improve academic environments in knowledge-based societies.