Engineering Professor Salary in the United States

How much does an Engineering Professor make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Engineering Professor in the United States is $111,046 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $124,234
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,911 to $117,949
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $95,505

Key Factors That Influence Engineering Professor Salaries

An Engineering Professor'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 Engineering Professor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineering Professor'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $81,103
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,790
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,740
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $142,711
  • Expert (over 8 years): $164,763
Levels Salary
Engineer ... Level Engineering Professor$81,103
Engineer ... Level Engineering Professor$93,790
Engineeri... Level Engineering Professor$112,740
Engineer ... Level Engineering Professor$142,711
Engineer ... Level Engineering Professor$164,763

How Do Engineering Professor 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 Engineering Professors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $122,950.
  • California: $122,484.
  • Massachusetts: $120,851.

Top Paying Cities for Engineering Professors

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: $140,062
  • San Francisco: $138,529
  • Oakland: $135,609

What Skills Can Increase an Engineering Professor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.08% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • API (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): An application programming interface is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software.
  • Java (Mentioned in 1.71% Job Postings): Using Java in the development and maintenance of application programs and systems.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.08%
API 2.09%
Java 1.71%

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 Engineering Professor's salary.

  • DevOps: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • JavaScript: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Test Automation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
DevOps $122,151
10%
JavaScript $119,930
8%
Test Automation $118,819
7%

Engineering Professor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Engineering Professor roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Engineering Professor positions in Financial Services or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Engineering Professor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Engineering Professor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$155,464$75.040%
Aerospace & Defense$144,360$69.030%
Media$135,476$65.022%
Healthcare$133,255$64.020%
Retail & Wholesale$128,813$62.016%

How Education impacts an Engineering Professor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Engineering Professors 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 Engineering Professor with a Bachelor's Degree is between $105,951 and $111,242).

Engineering Professor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Engineering Professor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.6%
Associates 3.5%
Bachelors 36.5%
Masters 41.6%
Doctorate 15.5%

Engineering Professor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Engineering Professor'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 October 01, 2026
$102,911
Average $111,046/year
$117,949
$8,576
Average $9,254/month
$9,829
$1,979
Average $2,136/week
$2,268
$49
Average $53/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $117,949 $9,829 $2,268 $57
Average $111,046 $9,254 $2,136 $53
25th Percentile $102,911 $8,576 $1,979 $49

Most common benefits for Engineering Professor

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

Common company salaries for Engineering Professor

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

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FAQ about Engineering Professor

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Engineering Professor?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Engineering Professor roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

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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