Engineering teachers at the postsecondary level instruct students in engineering principles and practices. You'll need a doctoral degree and extensive preparation in your engineering field. The work is intellectually demanding and directly shapes the next generation of engineers.
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Engineering teachers design and deliver courses in engineering disciplines to college and university students. You train and teach others through lectures, labs, and hands-on projects. Your work involves thinking creatively about how to present complex material, analyzing student performance data, and staying current with evolving engineering knowledge and technology. You make decisions about curriculum, assessment methods, and teaching strategies. Much of your day involves processing technical information, explaining it clearly, and helping students develop problem-solving skills.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $109,270 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow 8 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average for all occupations, with about 4,100 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You will need a doctoral degree in engineering or a related field. This typically follows a bachelor's degree and master's degree, representing extensive academic preparation. Your doctoral work should focus on both engineering knowledge and research. Many programs combine coursework in advanced engineering topics with independent research. Beyond formal education, you'll develop expertise in your specific engineering discipline and gain experience communicating complex ideas. Some positions may require or prefer prior industry experience alongside your academic credentials.
The path to engineering teaching runs through doctoral study in your engineering specialty. If you're considering whether a doctoral program fits your goals and timeline, Pathly can map the engineering teacher, postsecondary path that fits you with your counselor to map out the steps and milestones ahead.
You do not need a license to work as an engineering teacher, postsecondary, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to this work if you enjoy working directly with people, explaining ideas, and helping others learn and grow. Teaching appeals to you more than pure research or industry practice.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).