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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.
Other titles employers use
Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Chemical Engineering Professor · Electrical Engineering Professor · Engineering Instructor · Engineering Professor · Environmental Engineering Professor · Instructor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and practical work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.3 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.2 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.2 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 93%
- A master's degree 6%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Word processing software
- Project management software
- Electronic mail software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Web platform development software
- Spreadsheet software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 4,430
- Job openings each year
- 80
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 21.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 4,430 | 80 | 21.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,040 | 330 | 7.4% |
| Texas | 3,450 | 300 | 15.0% |
| California | 3,400 | 290 | 9.7% |
| Michigan | 2,450 | 200 | 9.9% |
| Florida | 1,930 | 170 | 19.1% |
| Colorado | 1,650 | 150 | 26.0% |
| Indiana | 1,570 | 130 | 11.3% |
| North Carolina | 1,500 | 130 | 18.1% |
| Virginia | 1,360 | 110 | 8.8% |
| Ohio | 1,270 | 100 | 6.7% |
| Alabama | 1,210 | 100 | 12.0% |
| Maryland | 1,120 | 100 | 20.4% |
| Tennessee | 1,070 | 100 | 25.9% |
| South Carolina | 1,030 | 90 | 18.4% |
| Illinois | 1,010 | 80 | 6.3% |
| Wisconsin | 780 | 70 | 13.0% |
| New Jersey | 740 | 60 | 13.8% |
| Washington | 740 | 70 | 13.8% |
| Arizona | 700 | 60 | 11.1% |
| Connecticut | 620 | 50 | 17.0% |
| Iowa | 600 | 50 | 15.4% |
| Massachusetts | 580 | 50 | 20.8% |
| Puerto Rico | 530 | 50 | 17.8% |
| Utah | 490 | 50 | 32.4% |
| Missouri | 440 | 40 | 7.3% |
| Oregon | 430 | 40 | 10.3% |
| Minnesota | 410 | 30 | 10.8% |
| Mississippi | 390 | 30 | 11.4% |
| Arkansas | 340 | 30 | 6.3% |
| West Virginia | 310 | 30 | 6.9% |
| Idaho | 300 | 30 | 20.0% |
| Louisiana | 300 | 20 | 15.4% |
| Oklahoma | 260 | 20 | 4.0% |
| Kansas | 250 | 20 | 8.7% |
| New Mexico | 250 | 20 | 13.6% |
| Nevada | 220 | 20 | 15.8% |
| Rhode Island | 220 | 20 | 10.0% |
| Kentucky | 170 | 20 | 6.3% |
| Montana | 170 | 10 | 13.3% |
| Nebraska | 170 | 10 | — |
| District of Columbia | 160 | 10 | 6.7% |
| Maine | 160 | 10 | 6.7% |
| North Dakota | 160 | 10 | 6.7% |
| Wyoming | 130 | 10 | 18.2% |
| South Dakota | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Alaska | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 2,334
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryDirect to college
Open college INPurdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 2,312
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college OHOhio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,726
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college ILUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Degrees each year
- 1,818
- Admit rate
- 44%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college VAVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Degrees each year
- 1,805
- Admit rate
- 57%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college GAGeorgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,964
- Admit rate
- 16%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college CACalifornia State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 1,063
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Program entryFirst-year program admission
Open college TXThe University of Texas at Austin
- Degrees each year
- 1,381
- Admit rate
- 29%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryDirect to college
Open college