Education & Library
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering Professor, Electrical Engineering Professor
US median pay
$109,270
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+7.8%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
3,900
50,900 employed
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What they do day to day
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as mechanics, hydraulics, and robotics.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate class discussions.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Instructing4.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.2/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Systems Evaluation3.1/5
- Systems Analysis3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology5.0/5
- Design4.6/5
- Computers and Electronics4.5/5
- Mathematics4.5/5
- English Language4.4/5
- Physics4.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Doctoral degree59%
- Post-doctoral training17%
- Post-master's certificate17%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.