Hiring guide · Education & Childcare
How to Hire an Engineering Professor
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring engineering professors, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $109,270), recruit through college education programs and student-teaching placements, verify Ph.D. in engineering where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for engineering professors
There are about 50,900 engineering professors employed in the U.S., with roughly 3,900 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +7.8% from 2025–35 (much faster than average). Expect competition for qualified candidates: speed and a strong offer matter.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $61,550–$81,570 | $29.59–$39.22 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $109,270 | $52.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $150,860 | $72.53 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $210,370 | $101.14 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Doctoral or professional degree (typical entry level)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Leadership
Nice-to-haves
- Ph.D. in engineering
- PE license
- ABET experience
- Experience with simulation software
Where to find engineering professors
- College education programs and student-teaching placements
- Alternative certification and residency programs
- Substitute and paraprofessional pools
- Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Engineering Faculty, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Electrical Engineering Professor, Civil Engineering Professor
Screening checklist
- State license or certification verification where required
- Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
- CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
- A sample lesson or classroom observation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Describe your research.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain impact.
2. “How do you mentor graduate students?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
3. “What courses can you teach?”
What a strong answer includes: List.
4. “Describe your funding plan.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
5. “How do you work with industry?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Advise a Capstone Design Team (see the steps)
- Write a Research Grant Proposal (see the steps)
- Run a Safe Research Lab (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Capstone design, ABET, Research group
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Engineering Professor 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Engineering Professor training. Show them the path forward: Postdoc or Instructor → Assistant Professor → Associate Professor → Professor or Dean.
Hiring engineering professors: FAQ
How much should I pay an engineering professor?
The U.S. median wage for engineering professors is $109,270 per year, according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($81,570), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($150,860). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should an engineering professor have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Ph.D. in engineering and PE license where relevant, plus skills such as engineering fundamentals, research design, and lab management.
How long does it take to train a new engineering professor?
Becoming qualified typically takes 5–7 years after a bachelor’s. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”