How much does an engineering professor make?
a year · about $53 an hour
A typical engineering professor in the United States makes $109,270 a year, about $53 an hour, about 2.1× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A typical day might start with a lecture on mechanics or robotics, then a lab where students test ideas. Later, the professor grades work, advises students, or researches and writes a grant proposal.
Did you know? Surprise: engineering professors may write grant proposals to ask outside funders for research money—a core task listed for this occupation.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $61,550 and $210,370How do you become one?
In the U.S., study engineering in college and then usually earn a Ph.D. in an engineering field; four-year universities typically expect a doctorate. Some community colleges or part-time jobs may accept a master’s degree instead.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, tenure, location, and the kind and size of the school can all affect an engineering professor’s pay. Large universities may expect research and grant work as well as teaching, while community colleges focus more on teaching; hours worked can matter too.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($137,280), lowest in Pennsylvania ($82,070).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $61,550 | $109,270 | $210,370 | about 40,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $137,280 | about 3,000 |
| Illinois | $135,430 | about 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $134,850 | about 3,000 |
| Georgia | $131,260 | about 700 |
| Michigan | $127,230 | about 2,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary” (25-1021).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/25-1032.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/May/oes251032.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY