Engineering Professor Salary: Highest Paying States and Lowest Paying States

In the varied landscape of higher education, when it comes to college professors and how much they’re paid, a multitude of factors come into play, ranging from the field of study to the geographic location of the institution. Among these disciplines, the earnings of engineering professors have become a topic of increasing interest among the public, reflecting broader trends in the valuation of scientific education and research in the United States. 

This BrokeScholar study breaks down the financial terrain of these instructors, highlighting the states where engineering professors earn the highest salaries, contrasted with those where their compensation might seem modest or worse.

Read on to find out the average engineering professor salary in every state.

Table of Contents

• How Much Do Engineering Professors Make?
• 10 States With the Highest Engineering Professor Salaries
• 10 States With the Lowest Engineering Professor Salaries
• Table of All States and Engineering Professor Salaries
• The Bottom Line on the Average Engineering Professor Salary

How Much Do Engineering Professors Make?

In order to identify where the average engineering professor salary is highest, BrokeScholar conducted an analysis of the annual wages of engineering professors across the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average engineering professor salary is $114,470 (referred to as “engineering teachers, postsecondary” by the BLS).

The typical engineering professor salary, however, can vary significantly from state to state. For example, in the highest-paying state for engineering professors, the average engineering professor salary is nearly $20,000 higher than the national average. Not only that, but the state with the highest average engineering professor salary is also almost $65,000 more than in the state with the lowest engineering professor salary.

10 States With the Highest Engineering Professor Salaries

Geographically, the states where engineering professors earn the most money on average represent a good mix. Out of the top 10 states, three states are in the Census-designated West region, three states are in the Midwest region, two states are in the Northeast region, and two states are in the South. In 11 states, the average engineering professor salary is in excess of $120,000 a year. Here’s a look at the 10 states where engineering professors earn the most money:

1. Rhode Island Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $134,290

Median annual wage: $130,710

2. New York Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $131,330

Median annual wage: $120,540

3. California Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $131,020

Median annual wage: $125,910

4. Iowa Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $128,560

Median annual wage: $127,570

5. Illinois Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $127,590

Median annual wage: $116,930

6. Montana Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $125,600

Median annual wage: $103,010

7. Virginia Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $123,650

Median annual wage: $110,150

8. Michigan Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $122,890

Median annual wage: $107,730

9. Oregon Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $120,850

Median annual wage: $109,840

10. Texas Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $120,330

Median annual wage: $106,460

Rhode Island takes the No. 1 spot, having an average engineering professor salary of $134,290, up 2% from last year’s $131,680. On the other hand, in the span of only one year, the average engineering professor salary in the No. 5 highest-paying state — Illinois — witnessed an 11.9% decline, from $144,770 down to $127,590. 

10 States With the Lowest Engineering Professor Salaries

Looking at the other end of the spectrum, we’ll focus on the 10 states where the average engineering professor salary is lowest. Geographically, these states tend to be in the South, plus parts of the Midwest and some Rocky Mountain states. The lowest-paying state for engineering professors has an average engineering professor salary that’s nearly $45,000 less than the national average. Here’s a look at the 10 states where engineering professors earn the least money:

1. Kentucky Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $69,540

Median annual wage: $66,840

2. Oklahoma Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $78,500

Median annual wage: $72,810

3. Colorado Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $83,690

Median annual wage: $77,620

4. Florida Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $90,330

Median annual wage: $73,330

5. South Dakota Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $93,070

Median annual wage: $97,500

6. Utah Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $93,460

Median annual wage: $99,710

7. Mississippi Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $94,430

Median annual wage: $95,760

8. North Dakota Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $94,490

Median annual wage: $85,360

9. Arkansas Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $95,900

Median annual wage: $97,800

10. West Virginia Engineering Professor Salary

Average annual wage: $96,280

Median annual wage: $98,260

In the end, Kentucky takes the cake as the lowest-paying state for engineering professors, with an average annual wage of $69,540. Interestingly, in several states, the median annual wage of engineering professors is actually more than the average annual wage, such as in Utah, where the median salary is $6,250 more than the average salary. Meanwhile, Florida, which ranked as the fourth worst-paying state, has an average annual engineering professor salary that’s $17,000 higher than its corresponding annual median salary: $90,330 versus $73,330, respectively.

Table of All States and Engineering Professor Salaries

Below you’ll find a table detailing the average engineering professor salary in every state that there is data available for. The BLS does not have wage data for engineering professors in five states: Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Vermont. States are listed in alphabetical order, but their rank in terms of average annual engineering professor salary is included:

The Bottom Line on the Average Engineering Professor Salary

The differences in earnings among college engineering professors across different states are both intriguing and insightful. High earning states like Rhode Island (notably home to Brown University), New York (home to a pair of Ivy League schools plus top-notch places like NYU), and California, tend to host prestigious institutions with greater resources, luring top talent while also featuring very competitive undergraduate acceptance rates. 

However, it's crucial to recognize that these higher salaries often correlate with higher costs of living and more expensive tuition fees. Hence, the message is clear for aspiring engineering students: Where you choose to study can have a significant impact on both your professors' expertise and your financial considerations.

The study also underscores the importance of scholarships for students pursuing engineering or any other field of study. Scholarships can bridge the financial gap and provide opportunities to study under renowned professors in states where earnings are higher. By diligently researching and applying for scholarships, students can access quality education without being hindered by financial constraints.  In addition to scholarships, take advantage of student discounts to lower your day-to-day expenses. This ensures that talent and ambition remain the driving forces in education, rather than economic barriers, keeping the path to academic success within reach for all aspiring scholars.