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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $106,120 in the US and is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Doctoral or professional degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.45 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Speaking, Instructing, Learning Strategies, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £52,835 a year for Higher education teaching professionals (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £42,062 to £66,191 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2311). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Engineering teachers, postsecondary, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
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Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
A day in the life
You start the morning in your office answering emails from research students, then check the results of an overnight experiment in the lab. Late morning you lecture on fluid mechanics, mixing theory on the board with a short demonstration that makes the equations feel real. Afterwards you supervise a lab session, walking between benches, checking measurements and asking students to explain what they see. Over lunch you meet your research group to review progress on a funded project and plan the next set of tests. The afternoon is split between marking lab reports and working on a grant proposal to fund new equipment, carefully explaining why the work matters. You finish by reviewing a paper for a journal and reading about a new technique in your field. The admin and deadlines can pile up, but seeing a student's project become a published paper is hugely satisfying.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually 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.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Engineering teachers, postsecondary do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Engineering teachers, postsecondary?
You start the morning in your office answering emails from research students, then check the results of an overnight experiment in the lab. Late morning you lecture on fluid mechanics, mixing theory on the board with a short demonstration that makes the equations feel real. Afterwards you supervise a lab session, walking between benches, checking measurements and asking students to explain what they see.
How much does Engineering teachers, postsecondary earn?
The median annual salary for Engineering teachers, postsecondary in the US is $106,120.
What is the job outlook for Engineering teachers, postsecondary?
The role is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 50,300 workers.
How do I become engineering teachers, postsecondary?
The typical entry education is a Doctoral or professional degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Engineering teachers, postsecondary need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Speaking, Instructing, Learning Strategies, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Engineering teachers, postsecondary?
Our AI-durability model gives Engineering teachers, postsecondary a score of 0.45 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Engineering teachers, postsecondary has very high barrier to entry — very highly gated — extended graduate education, licensure, or years of specialised training are required.