Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salary in the United States
How much does an Instructor - Mechanical Engineering make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Instructor - Mechanical Engineering in the United States is $67,939 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.
However, an Instructor - Mechanical Engineering's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,433
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58,767 to $77,096
Key Factors That Influence Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries
An Instructor - 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 Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of an Instructor - 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:
Asst. Professor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $98,312
Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $110,711
Professor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $134,099
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering
0-0 years
$67,939
Asst. Professor - Mechanical Engineering
0-0 years
$98,312
Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering
0-0 years
$110,711
Professor - Mechanical Engineering
0-0 years
$134,099
$67,939Instructo...
$98,312Asst. Pro...
$110,711Assoc. Pr...
$134,099Professor...
View as Table
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Instructor - Mechanical Engineerings.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Top Paying Cities for Instructor - Mechanical Engineerings
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: $85,691
San Francisco: $84,753
Oakland: $82,967
San Jose, CA$85,691
San Francisco, CA$84,753
Oakland, CA$82,967
New York, NY$78,224
Paramus, NJ$77,273
Queens Village, NY$77,270
Passaic, NJ$77,205
Bergenfield, NJ$77,199
Stamford, CT$77,050
Huntington, NY$77,022
Newark, NJ$76,520
Bridgeport, CT$76,376
Vallejo, CA$76,241
New Brunswick, NJ$76,214
Petaluma, CA$76,173
Middlesex, NJ$76,044
Somerset, NJ$75,997
Santa Cruz, CA$75,908
Boston, MA$75,494
Monterey, CA$75,255
Seattle, WA$75,100
Santa Rosa, CA$75,086
Los Angeles, CA$75,066
Juneau, AK$74,889
Washington, DC$74,814
Orange, CA$74,573
Santa Ana, CA$74,393
Long Beach, CA$74,325
Anaheim, CA$74,312
Anchorage, AK$74,278
Santa Maria, CA$74,074
Everett, WA$74,060
Danbury, CT$73,821
Bremerton, WA$73,727
Tacoma, WA$73,483
New Suffolk, NY$73,481
Sacramento, CA$73,462
Santa Barbara, CA$73,388
Trenton, NJ$73,313
San Diego, CA$73,313
Brockton, MA$73,238
Fairbanks, AK$73,072
Lompoc, CA$72,899
Lowell, MA$72,844
Ventura, CA$72,831
Nashua, NH$72,817
Stockton, CA$72,810
Modesto, CA$72,314
Poughkeepsie, NY$72,165
Olympia, WA$72,036
Kennewick, WA$72,036
New Haven, CT$72,009
Lawrence, MA$71,764
Hartford, CT$71,696
Riverside, CA$71,682
New Bedford, MA$71,614
Richland, WA$71,614
Bakersfield, CA$71,519
San Bernardino, CA$71,492
New Britain, CT$71,485
Atlantic City, NJ$71,485
New London, CT$71,458
Norwich, CT$71,438
Portsmouth, NH$71,424
Boulder, CO$71,280
Portland, OR$71,186
Worcester, MA$71,180
Minneapolis, MN$70,969
Philadelphia, PA$70,874
Honolulu, HI$70,650
Saint Paul, MN$70,617
Vineland, NJ$70,602
Providence, RI$70,405
Chicago, IL$70,208
Bellingham, WA$70,127
Springfield, MA$70,072
Baltimore, MD$70,052
Chico, CA$69,882
Pittsfield, MA$69,699
Manchester, NH$69,570
Spokane, WA$69,271
Denver, CO$69,264
Albany, NY$68,944
Troy, NY$68,917
Nassau, NY$68,845
Schenectady, NY$68,775
Wilmington, DE$68,720
Burlington, VT$68,625
Salem, OR$68,598
Portland, ME$68,387
Yakima, WA$68,319
Rochester, MN$68,109
Reno, NV$68,075
Fresno, CA$68,075
Milwaukee, WI$68,014
Detroit, MI$67,946
Ann Arbor, MI$67,934
Allentown, PA$67,925
Colorado Springs, CO$67,810
Syracuse, NY$67,776
Carson City, NV$67,776
Houston, TX$67,681
Eugene, OR$67,647
Gary, IN$67,565
Springfield, OR$67,511
Bismarck, ND$67,497
Galveston, TX$67,450
Medford, OR$67,348
Fort Collins, CO$67,321
Concord, NH$67,287
Austin, TX$67,266
Mesa, AZ$67,124
Reading, PA$67,117
Phoenix, AZ$67,110
Dallas, TX$67,090
Saint Cloud, MN$67,025
Madison, WI$66,934
Utica, NY$66,750
Rochester, NY$66,641
Des Moines, IA$66,635
Raleigh, NC$66,628
Atlanta, GA$66,526
Battle Creek, MI$66,505
Salt Lake City, UT$66,485
Lancaster, PA$66,383
Harrisburg, PA$66,288
Kansas City, MO$66,220
Champaign, IL$66,207
Kansas City, KS$66,207
Fort Worth, TX$66,200
Columbus, OH$66,188
Boca Raton, FL$66,173
Pittsburgh, PA$66,145
Richmond, VA$66,118
Indianapolis, IN$66,105
Cleveland, OH$66,098
Las Vegas, NV$66,016
Cincinnati, OH$66,016
Petersburg, VA$65,914
Huntsville, AL$65,813
Lansing, MI$65,767
Lebanon, PA$65,758
Pueblo, CO$65,751
Appleton, WI$65,731
Buffalo, NY$65,704
Dayton, OH$65,683
Racine, WI$65,670
Charlotte, NC$65,663
Saint Louis, MO$65,643
York, PA$65,602
Elkhart, IN$65,602
Gastonia, NC$65,589
Billings, MT$65,573
Beaumont, TX$65,554
Lorain, OH$65,541
Benton Harbor, MI$65,527
Toledo, OH$65,514
Binghamton, NY$65,480
Rock Hill, SC$65,473
Rockford, IL$65,439
Springfield, IL$65,412
Elyria, OH$65,405
Fargo, ND$65,405
Flagstaff, AZ$65,357
Fort Lauderdale, FL$65,317
Duluth, MN$65,276
Miami, FL$65,276
Cheyenne, WY$65,228
Grand Forks, ND$65,228
Bangor, ME$65,079
Cedar Rapids, IA$65,004
Durham, NC$64,976
Louisville, KY$64,970
Grand Rapids, MI$64,956
Hialeah, FL$64,950
Casper, WY$64,855
Scranton, PA$64,773
New Orleans, LA$64,753
Virginia Beach, VA$64,746
Akron, OH$64,712
Peoria, IL$64,624
Sarasota, FL$64,610
Nashville, TN$64,562
Omaha, NE$64,562
Green Bay, WI$64,562
Baton Rouge, LA$64,528
Charleston, SC$64,515
Jamestown, NY$64,481
Davenport, IA$64,481
Tucson, AZ$64,447
Saint Petersburg, FL$64,406
Tampa, FL$64,393
Evansville, IN$64,352
Port Arthur, TX$64,352
Bradenton, FL$64,325
Santa Fe, NM$64,202
Orlando, FL$64,080
Clearwater, FL$64,060
Canton, OH$63,917
La Crosse, WI$63,917
Albuquerque, NM$63,876
Newport News, VA$63,869
High Point, NC$63,849
Ogden, UT$63,822
Corpus Christi, TX$63,768
Norfolk, VA$63,727
Laramie, WY$63,727
Rock Island, IL$63,686
Saginaw, MI$63,672
Jacksonville, FL$63,666
Salisbury, NC$63,652
Boise, ID$63,638
Moline, IL$63,604
Fort Myers, FL$63,584
Memphis, TN$63,571
Tulsa, OK$63,537
Waterloo, IA$63,496
Spartanburg, SC$63,428
Lincoln, NE$63,394
Fort Wayne, IN$63,380
Provo, UT$63,373
Cedar Falls, IA$63,292
San Antonio, TX$63,265
Greensboro, NC$63,238
South Bend, IN$63,231
Savannah, GA$63,156
Muskegon, MI$63,129
Birmingham, AL$63,122
Winston Salem, NC$63,089
Lake Charles, LA$62,925
Anderson, IN$62,912
Lexington, KY$62,891
Augusta, GA$62,871
Greenville, SC$62,871
Lima, OH$62,816
Wichita, KS$62,810
Tuscaloosa, AL$62,810
Columbia, SC$62,748
Springfield, OH$62,735
Asheville, NC$62,626
Bloomington, IN$62,579
Knoxville, TN$62,334
Shreveport, LA$62,327
Wilmington, NC$62,239
Roanoke, VA$62,239
Topeka, KS$62,117
Frankfort, KY$62,109
Oklahoma City, OK$62,062
Chillicothe, OH$62,035
Longview, TX$62,028
Melbourne, FL$62,022
Sioux Falls, SD$61,913
Mobile, AL$61,906
Terre Haute, IN$61,879
Altoona, PA$61,838
Amarillo, TX$61,791
Killeen, TX$61,770
Fayetteville, AR$61,716
Chattanooga, TN$61,695
Sioux City, IA$61,634
Idaho Falls, ID$61,621
Lynchburg, VA$61,566
Gainesville, FL$61,478
Portsmouth, OH$61,444
Little Rock, AR$61,430
Lafayette, LA$61,403
Youngstown, OH$61,403
Daytona Beach, FL$61,363
Clarksville, TN$61,356
Pensacola, FL$61,349
Temple, TX$61,344
Hopkinsville, KY$61,145
Erie, PA$61,132
Florence, SC$61,104
Charleston, WV$60,996
Great Falls, MT$60,962
Macon, GA$60,867
Tallahassee, FL$60,860
Fayetteville, NC$60,846
Waco, TX$60,833
Helena, MT$60,785
Pine Bluff, AR$60,759
Vincennes, IN$60,676
Lubbock, TX$60,649
Alamogordo, NM$60,608
Twin Falls, ID$60,547
Rapid City, SD$60,527
Jackson, MS$60,405
Huntington, WV$60,400
Greenville, MS$60,398
Parkersburg, WV$60,328
Montgomery, AL$60,316
Wichita Falls, TX$60,248
Springfield, MO$60,248
Biloxi, MS$60,214
Monroe, LA$60,146
Johnstown, PA$60,099
Sumter, SC$60,072
Columbus, GA$60,065
Pascagoula, MS$59,936
Abilene, TX$59,936
Kingsport, TN$59,759
Albany, GA$59,759
Gulfport, MS$59,739
Alexandria, LA$59,515
Fort Smith, AR$59,345
El Paso, TX$59,161
Las Cruces, NM$58,856
Harlingen, TX$58,683
Pocatello, ID$58,672
Florence, AL$58,584
Brownsville, TX$58,570
Mcallen, TX$58,428
Dothan, AL$58,332
Columbus, MS$57,929
Altus, OK$57,612
Lawton, OK$57,483
Pierre, SD$57,239
What Skills Can Increase an Instructor - Mechanical Engineering's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Commitment (Mentioned in 12.82% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Spring (Mentioned in 1.97% Job Postings): Spring is the season during which the natural world revives and reinvigorates after the colder winter months. During spring, dormant plants begin to grow again, new seedlings sprout out of the ground and hibernating animals awake.
Safety Standards (Mentioned in 1.43% Job Postings): Safety standards are designed to ensure the safety of products, activities and processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Commitment
12.82%
Spring
1.97%
Safety Standards
1.43%
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 Instructor - Mechanical Engineering's salary.
Public Speaking: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Safety Training: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
CPR: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Public Speaking
$77,450
14%
Safety Training
$75,412
11%
CPR
$74,054
9%
Chemistry
$72,015
6%
First Aid
$71,336
5%
Workday
$70,657
4%
Get Latest Data
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $70,165.
While startup companies pay approximate $59,928.
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$59,928
Growth Stage
51~500
$63,234
Established
501~5000
$67,929
Enterprise
5000+
$70,165
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Instructor - 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,
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Instructor - Mechanical Engineering as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for an Instructor - Mechanical Engineering
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$74,733
$36.0
10%
How Education impacts an Instructor - Mechanical Engineering's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Instructor - Mechanical Engineerings enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Instructor - Mechanical Engineering with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$69,611
and $76,409).
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Instructor - Mechanical Engineering
Understanding how an Instructor - 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$58,767
Average$67,939/year
$77,096
$4,897
Average$5,662/month
$6,425
$1,130
Average$1,307/week
$1,483
$28
Average$33/hour
$37
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$77,096
$6,425
$1,483
$37
Average
$67,939
$5,662
$1,307
$33
25th Percentile
$58,767
$4,897
$1,130
$28
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As an Instructor - 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.
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role
Estimate Salary
Projected Raise
Asst. Professor - Architecture
$72,281
6%
Asst. Professor - Biology
$71,045
5%
Asst. Professor - Chemical Engineering
$96,211
42%
Asst. Professor - Civil Engineering
$90,406
33%
Salaries of jobs related to Instructor - Mechanical Engineering
Salary Trends for Instructor - Mechanical Engineering
Salaries for an Instructor - Mechanical Engineering can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $55,867 in 2023
to around $53,962 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Instructor - Mechanical Engineering salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Instructor - Mechanical Engineering Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$55,867
2024
$55,153
2025
$53,962
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$55,867
2024
$55,153
2025
$53,962
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Instructor - Mechanical Engineering
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Instructor - Mechanical Engineering
Here are companies hiring for Instructor - Mechanical Engineering and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Instructor - Mechanical Engineering
1. Where can an Instructor - Mechanical Engineering earn the most?
An Instructor - 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 Instructor - Mechanical Engineering earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Instructor - Mechanical Engineering is $85,691.
2. What is the highest pay for Instructor - Mechanical Engineering?
The highest pay for Instructor - Mechanical Engineering is $85,433.
3. What is the lowest pay for Instructor - Mechanical Engineering?
The lowest pay for Instructor - Mechanical Engineering is $50,416.
4. What are the responsibilities of Instructor - Mechanical Engineering?
Teaches courses in the discipline area of mechanical engineering. Develops and designs curriculum to foster student learning, stimulate class discussions, and ensure student engagement. Provides tutoring and academic counseling to students, maintains records, and assesses student coursework. Typically reports to a department head. Has a Master's degree or is a PhD candidate in the applicable field. Has experience and is qualified to teach at undergraduate level and possesses the qualifications to participate in research.
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.
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