Career comparison
Electrical Engineer vs. Engineering Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Electrical engineers earn more at the median ($120,630 vs. $109,270), while electrical engineers usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Electrical engineers design power systems, electronics and controls that run modern life. Engineering professors teach engineering and lead research labs at colleges and universities.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $120,630 ($58.00/hr) | $109,270 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $76,550 – $184,300 | $61,550 – $210,370 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +9.9% (much faster than average) | +7.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 11,400 | 3,900 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Engineer in Training (EIT) | Ph.D. in engineering |
| Work setting | Electrical engineers work in offices, labs, plants and at project sites.. | Engineering faculty work in classrooms, labs and offices.. |
What each job does
Electrical Engineer
- Design electrical systems
- Develop circuits and electronics
- Calculate loads and specify equipment
- Create schematics and drawings
- Test and troubleshoot systems
Engineering Professor
- Teach engineering courses
- Run teaching labs
- Advise capstone design teams
- Lead a research lab
- Write grant proposals
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, in-demand, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as problem solving and leadership.
Which should you choose?
Choose electrical engineer if…
- I love electricity and electronics
- I enjoy math and physics
- I want high pay
Choose engineering professor if…
- I love engineering
- I want to lead research
- I enjoy mentoring
Still torn? Take the Electrical Engineer fit quiz and the Engineering Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, electrical engineer or engineering professor?
Electrical Engineers earn more at the median: $120,630 versus $109,270 for engineering professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Electrical Engineers typically train faster (4 years) than engineering professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects electrical engineers to grow +9.9% from 2025–35, compared with +7.8% for engineering professors.