Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
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.
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The Daily Work of Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of engineering teachers, postsecondary span:
- 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.
What Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary Need to Know
Top engineering teachers, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Engineering Instructor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Professor
- Aeronautical Engineering Professor
- Aeronautical Engineering Teacher
- Aeronautics Teacher
- Agricultural Engineering Teacher
- Applied Mechanics Teacher
Job Outlook
There are about 1,323,035 engineering teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -2.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $79,889 |
| Hourly median | $38.41 |
| 10th percentile | $49,031 |
| 25th percentile | $64,460 |
| 75th percentile | $95,318 |
| 90th percentile | $110,747 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Kansas | $129,700 |
| California | $129,140 |
| Illinois | $128,670 |
| Virginia | $126,940 |
| Montana | $126,670 |
| Georgia | $126,340 |
| Michigan | $126,050 |
| Texas | $125,340 |
| Louisiana | $124,280 |
| New York | $122,870 |
| Maryland | $120,640 |
| Iowa | $111,770 |
| Tennessee | $109,360 |
| Washington | $109,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $108,220 |
| Idaho | $107,710 |
| West Virginia | $107,100 |
| Alaska | $106,150 |
| Wisconsin | $105,710 |
| Arizona | $105,690 |
| Nebraska | $105,560 |
| North Dakota | $105,280 |
| Delaware | $104,830 |
| New Hampshire | $104,300 |
| Minnesota | $104,130 |
| New Jersey | $104,080 |
| Missouri | $104,030 |
| Ohio | $103,850 |
| Nevada | $103,530 |
| Indiana | $103,470 |
| Alabama | $103,210 |
| Arkansas | $103,190 |
| Kentucky | $103,030 |
| Massachusetts | $102,880 |
| Utah | $102,870 |
| Oregon | $102,840 |
| Oklahoma | $102,730 |
| New Mexico | $102,520 |
| Maine | $102,470 |
| Mississippi | $101,650 |
| South Dakota | $100,990 |
| Wyoming | $99,510 |
| Rhode Island | $99,430 |
| District of Columbia | $97,740 |
| Vermont | $97,690 |
| South Carolina | $96,720 |
| Connecticut | $87,950 |
| Colorado | $83,290 |
| Puerto Rico | $59,960 |
| Florida | $56,580 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for engineering teachers, postsecondary vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $120,869 | 15.2% | 1.23 |
| Far Western US | $119,872 | 8.9% | 0.59 |
| Great Lakes | $114,739 | 16.3% | 1.23 |
| Middle Atlantic | $114,556 | 23.2% | 1.59 |
| Plains States | $109,793 | 4.7% | 1.03 |
| New England | $99,143 | 6.1% | 1.52 |
| Rocky Mountains | $95,275 | 5.4% | 1.40 |
| Southeast | $85,985 | 19.0% | 0.92 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $152,600 | 440 |
| Lawrence, KS | KS | $140,470 | 90 |
| Knoxville, TN | TN | $136,550 | 250 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | IN | $136,330 | |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | IN | $136,140 | 610 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | CO | $136,020 | 150 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | FL | $135,860 | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $134,780 | 710 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of engineering teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 39,890 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for engineering teachers, postsecondary tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Education and Training
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Architectural and Engineering Managers (Primary-Short)
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
- Materials Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechatronics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-1032.00 (Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary).