# Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engineering-teachers-postsecondary
- SOC code: 25-1032.00
- Career family: Education
- Median annual pay: $109,270 (10th percentile $61,550, 90th percentile $210,370)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +7.8%
- Openings a year: 3,900
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SIR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 64 |
| Investigative (I) | 73 |
| Artistic (A) | 36 |
| Social (S) | 80 |
| Enterprising (E) | 17 |
| Conventional (C) | 41 |

## What you'd do

- Training and Teaching Others (importance 91/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 91/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 91/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 87/100)
- Processing Information (importance 84/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 84/100)
- Getting Information (importance 78/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 78/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 76/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 75/100)

## Skills

Instructing, Learning Strategies, Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Engineering and Technology, Design, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Education and Training, Mechanical, Chemistry, Administration and Management

## Also called

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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Engineering, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1401) (CIP 1401, 803 colleges)
- [Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1410) (CIP 1410, 456 colleges)
- [Mechanical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1419) (CIP 1419, 445 colleges)
- [Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1409) (CIP 1409, 417 colleges)
- [Civil Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1408) (CIP 1408, 326 colleges)
- [Biomedical/Medical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1405) (CIP 1405, 245 colleges)
- [Engineering-Related Fields](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1515) (CIP 1515, 230 colleges)
- [Chemical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1407) (CIP 1407, 214 colleges)
- [Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1414) (CIP 1414, 169 colleges)
- [Industrial Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1435) (CIP 1435, 151 colleges)
- [Engineering, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1499) (CIP 1499, 149 colleges)
- [Engineering Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1412) (CIP 1412, 145 colleges)
- [Materials Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1418) (CIP 1418, 120 colleges)
- [Systems Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1427) (CIP 1427, 119 colleges)
- [Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1442) (CIP 1442, 108 colleges)
- [Engineering Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1413) (CIP 1413, 101 colleges)
- [Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1402) (CIP 1402, 96 colleges)
- [Manufacturing Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1436) (CIP 1436, 86 colleges)
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4010) (CIP 4010, 69 colleges)
- [Construction Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1433) (CIP 1433, 59 colleges)
- [Electrical and Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1447) (CIP 1447, 46 colleges)
- [Agricultural Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1403) (CIP 1403, 44 colleges)
- [Operations Research](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1437) (CIP 1437, 44 colleges)
- [Nuclear Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1423) (CIP 1423, 35 colleges)
- [Architectural Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1404) (CIP 1404, 31 colleges)
- [Petroleum Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1425) (CIP 1425, 31 colleges)
- Biological/Biosystems Engineering (CIP 1445, 29 colleges)
- Engineering Mechanics (CIP 1411, 29 colleges)
- Energy Systems Engineering (CIP 1448, 25 colleges)
- Surveying Engineering (CIP 1438, 25 colleges)
- Geological/Geophysical Engineering (CIP 1439, 24 colleges)
- Mining and Mineral Engineering (CIP 1421, 20 colleges)
- Polymer/Plastics Engineering (CIP 1432, 18 colleges)
- Ocean Engineering (CIP 1424, 17 colleges)
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (CIP 1422, 16 colleges)
- Metallurgical Engineering (CIP 1420, 13 colleges)
- Electromechanical Engineering (CIP 1441, 10 colleges)
- Biochemical Engineering (CIP 1443, 9 colleges)
- Ceramic Sciences and Engineering (CIP 1406, 6 colleges)
- Textile Sciences and Engineering (CIP 1428, 4 colleges)
- Engineering Chemistry (CIP 1444, 3 colleges)
- Forest Engineering (CIP 1434, 3 colleges)
- Paper Science and Engineering (CIP 1440, 3 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $150,074 | $250,168 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles UCLA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Computer Engineering | $137,925 | $228,705 | $17,731 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $154,713 | $200,543 | $13,548 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Computer Engineering | not reported | $194,365 | not reported |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Computer Engineering | $149,622 | $174,522 | $12,000 |
| [University of Washington-Bothell Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-bothell-campus-3074) | Computer Engineering | $147,670 | $169,570 | $13,570 |
| [University of Washington-Seattle Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-seattle-main-campus-3075) | Computer Engineering | $147,670 | $169,570 | $13,570 |
| [University of Washington-Tacoma Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-tacoma-campus-3076) | Computer Engineering | $147,670 | $169,570 | $13,570 |

## Related careers

- [Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/career-technical-education-teachers-postsecondary): $63,820 median pay
- [Physics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physics-teachers-postsecondary): $100,310 median pay
- [Architectural and Engineering Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/architectural-and-engineering-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-science-teachers-postsecondary): $96,980 median pay
- [Materials Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/materials-scientists): $117,790 median pay
- [Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-science-teachers-postsecondary): $94,980 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.