STEM Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Engineering Teachers

With a national median of $109,270 and +8.1% projected job growth through 2034, Engineering Teachers offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.

About Engineering Teachers

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.


Median Wage
$109,270
Employed Nationally
40K
Openings / Year
4,100
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Also known as:

Adjunct Engineering Instructor Adjunct Instructor Adjunct Professor Aeronautical Engineering Professor Aeronautical Engineering Teacher

How Much Do Engineering Teachers Make?

Engineering Teachers earn $109,270 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $81,570 and $150,860. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$109,270
National Median (Annual)

Well above average for college graduates.

$82K–$151K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

The mean wage for this occupation is $124,520, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.

What Do Engineering Teachers Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Engineering Teachers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

  • 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.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Instructing Learning Strategies Speaking Reading Comprehension Active Listening

Who Thrives Here

S
Social

Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.

I
Investigative

This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.

R
Realistic

Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.

Where Do Engineering Teachers Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
Moderate

Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.

What Is the Job Outlook for Engineering Teachers?

The BLS projects +8.1% employment change for Engineering Teachers through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 4,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↗ +8.1%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

Faster than average.

4,100
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

40K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Engineering Teachers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $109,270 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 Texas 4,740 $125,340 +14.7%
2 New York 3,840 $122,870 +12.4%
3 Pennsylvania 3,070 $108,220 -1.0%
4 California 2,060 $129,140 +18.2%
5 Michigan 1,760 $126,050 +15.4%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Engineering Teachers positions require a doctoral or professional degree to qualify. The 10 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Doctoral or professional degree
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Mechanical Engineering 43,522 $92,135 441
2 Electrical Engineering 27,809 $100,647 460
3 Civil Engineering 20,728 $86,517 326
4 Computer Engineering 18,973 $109,015 418
5 Bioengineering 14,006 $93,451 250
6 General Engineering 12,241 $89,359 780
7 Chemical Engineering 11,830 $98,158 211
8 Aerospace Engineering 9,220 $98,207 95
9 Materials Engineering 3,397 $91,449 115
10 Environmental Engineering 3,012 $81,171 168

Top Colleges for Aspiring Engineering Teachers

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD 97
2 United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT 96
3 United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO 96
4 United States Military Academy West Point, NY 96
5 Princeton University Princeton, NJ 94 $6,128 $110,066
6 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 93 $12,548 $82,511

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Engineering Teachers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Engineering Teachers Pros & Cons

Strong earnings and growing demand make Engineering Teachers a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.

PROS
  • Very high median salary The national median of $109,270 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
  • Fast-growing field At +8.1% projected growth through 2034, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
  • High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $150,860 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
  • High education requirement Most employers require a doctoral or professional degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.

Engineering Teachers Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Engineering Teachers professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Engineering Teachers is $109,270, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $81,570 and $150,860. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Engineering Teachers a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $109,270 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +8.1% through 2034 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to become a Engineering Teachers?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A doctoral or professional degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Mechanical Engineering are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $109,270 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a doctoral or professional degree worth it to become a Engineering Teachers?
For in-state public programs, generally yes. The margin tightens significantly at private schools with heavy debt loads. A $109,270 median may take 15 to 20 years to recover at high-cost programs. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Engineering Teachers?
The BLS projects +8.1% employment change for Engineering Teachers through 2034, faster than average compared to all occupations. About 4,100 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 40K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Engineering Teachers salaries vary so widely?
The $69,290 gap between the 25th ($81,570) and 75th ($150,860) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Engineering Teachers professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Engineering Teachers roles: Instructing, Learning Strategies, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, and Active Listening. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.

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