Career comparison
Engineering Professor vs. Mechanical Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Engineering professors earn more at the median ($109,270 vs. $104,110), while mechanical engineers usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Engineering professors teach engineering and lead research labs at colleges and universities. Mechanical engineers design machines, engines, tools and products that move and work.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Engineering Professor | Mechanical Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $109,270 | $104,110 ($50.05/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $61,550 – $210,370 | $73,990 – $164,340 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.8% (much faster than average) | +11.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 3,900 | 17,800 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 4 years |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in engineering | Engineer in Training (EIT) |
| Work setting | Engineering faculty work in classrooms, labs and offices.. | Mechanical engineers work in offices, labs and plants.. |
What each job does
Engineering Professor
- Teach engineering courses
- Run teaching labs
- Advise capstone design teams
- Lead a research lab
- Write grant proposals
Mechanical Engineer
- Design mechanical systems and products
- Create CAD models
- Analyze stress, heat and fluids
- Build and test prototypes
- Develop manufacturing processes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, high-pay, teamwork, and in-demand. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and science, engineering & lab, but share transferable skills such as leadership and problem solving.
Which should you choose?
Choose engineering professor if…
- I love engineering
- I want to lead research
- I enjoy mentoring
Choose mechanical engineer if…
- I love how machines work
- I enjoy math and physics
- I like designing products
Still torn? Take the Engineering Professor fit quiz and the Mechanical Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, engineering professor or mechanical engineer?
Engineering Professors earn more at the median: $109,270 versus $104,110 for mechanical engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Mechanical Engineers typically train faster (4 years) than engineering professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects mechanical engineers to grow +11.2% from 2025–35, compared with +7.8% for engineering professors.