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Boston Career Explorer

Educational Instruction and Library

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Also called: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering Professor, Electrical Engineering Professor, Engineering Instructor, Engineering Professor

Median pay in Greater Boston
$135,480
Jobs in Greater Boston
2,010
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+12.1%
130 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Doctoral or professional degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$80,720$103,530$135,480$214,460$275,340

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure83 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 92
  • Language-model AIOE 89
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 67

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for engineering teachers is in the higher range, and observed AI use is already substantial. AI tools can help with writing course materials, first-pass grading, and drafting grant proposals or research papers. Guiding student research, supervising labs, and judging ideas still rely on a teacher's expertise. Federal projections expect demand for engineering degrees to grow.

Likely to change

  • Drafting course materials and problem sets
  • Writing grant proposals and research papers

Still relies on people

  • Supervising student research and lab work
  • Mentoring students toward careers

What federal projections say

“Demand change - share increases as demand for engineering degrees is expected to increase.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

94 programs near Boston (plus 117 graduate)

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