Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does a Professor - Mechanical Engineering make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Professor - Mechanical Engineering in the United States is $133,643 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $64.

However, a Professor - Mechanical Engineering's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $172,286
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $117,676 to $153,870
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $103,139
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View as table View as graph 25% $117,676 10% $103,139 90% $172,286 75% $153,870 $133,643 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $153,870 $12,823 $2,959 $74
Average $133,643 $11,137 $2,570 $64
25th Percentile $117,676 $9,806 $2,263 $57
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Key Factors That Influence Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries

A Professor - Mechanical Engineering's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Professor - Mechanical Engineering's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Instructor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $67,907
  • Asst. Professor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $98,065
  • Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $110,366
  • Professor - Mechanical Engineering (0-0 years): $133,643
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Instructor - Mechanical Engineering0-0 years$67,907
Asst. Professor - Mechanical Engineering0-0 years$98,065
Assoc. Professor - Mechanical Engineering0-0 years$110,366
Professor - Mechanical Engineering0-0 years$133,643
$67,907 Instructo...
$98,065 Asst. Pro...
$110,366 Assoc. Pr...
$133,643 Professor...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Professor - Mechanical Engineerings

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $168,564
  • San Francisco: $166,907
  • Oakland: $163,205

What Skills Can Increase a Professor - Mechanical Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.5% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Academic Advising (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Academic advising is, according to the National Academic Advising Association, "a series of intentional interactions with a curriculum, a pedagogy, and a set of student learning outcomes. Academic advising synthesizes and contextualizes students' educational experiences within the frameworks of their aspirations, abilities and lives to extend learning beyond campus boundaries and timeframes."
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.5%
Academic Advising 2.08%
Computer Science 2.08%

How Education impacts a Professor - Mechanical Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Professor - Mechanical Engineerings enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Professor - Mechanical Engineering with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $135,619 and $158,976).

Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Professor - Mechanical Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 25.0%
High School 33.3%
Associates 41.7%
Bachelors 25.0%
Masters 33.3%
Doctorate 41.7%
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Professor - Mechanical Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Professor - Mechanical Engineering's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

Salary Trends for Professor - Mechanical Engineering

Salaries for a Professor - Mechanical Engineering can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $55,867 in 2023 to around $53,962 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Professor - Mechanical Engineering salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Professor - Mechanical Engineering Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$55,867
2024
$55,153
2025
$53,962
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $55,867
2024 $55,153
2025 $53,962
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Professor - Mechanical Engineering

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Professor - Mechanical Engineering

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Find Your Next Professor - Mechanical Engineering Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Professor - Mechanical Engineering job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Professor - Mechanical Engineering

1. Where can a Professor - Mechanical Engineering earn the most?

A Professor - Mechanical Engineering's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Professor - Mechanical Engineering earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Professor - Mechanical Engineering is $168,564.

2. What is the highest pay for Professor - Mechanical Engineering?

The highest pay for Professor - Mechanical Engineering is $172,286.

3. What is the lowest pay for Professor - Mechanical Engineering?

The lowest pay for Professor - Mechanical Engineering is $103,139.

4. What are the responsibilities of Professor - Mechanical Engineering?

Teaches courses in the discipline area of mechanical engineering. Develops and designs curriculum plans to foster student learning, stimulate class discussions, and ensures student engagement. Provides tutoring and academic counseling to students, maintains classes related records, and assesses student coursework. Collaborates and supports colleagues regarding research interests and co-curricular activities. Typically reports to a department head. Requires a PhD or terminal degree appropriate to the field. Has considerable experience and is qualified to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels and initiates research and case studies in field of interest and may publish findings in trade journals or textbooks. Provides intellectual leadership and has made significant contributions to the field. May offer independent study opportunities and mentoring to students. Typically this individual is a leader in the field and has been published.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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