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Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering in the United States is $110,755 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

However, an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $141,800
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $98,652 to $127,005
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $87,633

Key Factors That Influence Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries

An Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Instructor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $67,943
  • Asst. Professor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $98,344
  • Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $110,755
  • Professor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $134,158
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering0-0 years$67,943
Asst. Professor - Mechanical Engineering0-0 years$98,344
Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering0-0 years$110,755
Professor - Mechanical Engineering0-0 years$134,158

Top Paying Cities for Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $139,695
  • San Francisco: $138,166
  • Oakland: $135,254

What Skills Can Increase an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.5% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Academic Advising (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Academic advising is, according to the National Academic Advising Association, "a series of intentional interactions with a curriculum, a pedagogy, and a set of student learning outcomes. Academic advising synthesizes and contextualizes students' educational experiences within the frameworks of their aspirations, abilities and lives to extend learning beyond campus boundaries and timeframes."
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.5%
Academic Advising 2.08%
Computer Science 2.08%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering's salary.

  • Academic Advising: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Empathy: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Academic Advising $119,615
8%
Empathy $119,615
8%
Problem Solving $111,863
1%

Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $114,299. While startup companies pay approximate $97,666.

Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $97,666
Growth Stage 51~500 $103,044
Established 501~5000 $110,649
Enterprise 5000+ $114,299

Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 0% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$121,831$59.010%

How Education impacts an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering with a Bachelor's Degree is between $100,398 and $110,809.

Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.8%
High School 14.3%
Associates 9.5%
Bachelors 14.3%
Masters 9.5%
Doctorate 71.4%

Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$98,652
Average $110,755/year
$127,005
$8,221
Average $9,230/month
$10,584
$1,897
Average $2,130/week
$2,442
$47
Average $53/hour
$61
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $127,005 $10,584 $2,442 $61
Average $110,755 $9,230 $2,130 $53
25th Percentile $98,652 $8,221 $1,897 $47

Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Professor - Architecture $116,196 5%
Professor - Biology $101,591 -8%
Professor - Chemical Engineering $140,960 27%
Professor - Civil Engineering $140,653 27%

Most common benefits for Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering

Here are companies hiring for Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering

1. Where can an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering earn the most?

An Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering is $139,695.

2. What is the highest pay for Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering?

The highest pay for Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering is $141,800.

3. What is the lowest pay for Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering?

The lowest pay for Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering is $87,633.

4. What are the responsibilities of Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering?

Teaches courses in the discipline area of mechanical engineering. Develops and designs curriculum plans to foster student learning, stimulate class discussions, and ensures student engagement. Provides tutoring and academic counseling to students, maintains classes related records, and assesses student coursework. Collaborates and supports colleagues regarding research interests and co-curricular activities. Typically reports to a department head. Requires a PhD or terminal degree appropriate to the field. Has considerable experience and is qualified to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels and conducts research and case studies in field of interest and may publish findings in trade journals or textbooks.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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