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.
Also Known As
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Instructor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Adjunct Engineering Instructor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Professor
- Aeronautical Engineering Professor
- Aeronautical Engineering Teacher
- Aeronautics Teacher
- Agricultural Engineering Teacher
- Applied Mechanics Teacher
- Architectural Engineering Teacher
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Automotive Engineering Teacher
- Ceramic Engineering Professor
- Chemical Engineering Professor
- Chemical Engineering Teacher
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Learning
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
- Information Ordering
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Innovation
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk Revit
- C++
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Google Docs
- JavaScript
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Tools & Equipment
- Carousel slide projectors
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Computer numerical control CNC lathes
- Computer numerical control CNC mills
- Computer projectors
- Conference telephones
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Handheld microphones
- Interactive whiteboard controllers
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $59,790 |
| Median | $106,120 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $200,650 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 39,910
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $61,490
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $97,360
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $167,740
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $96,690
Materials Scientists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $104,160
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.