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Engineering instructor vs professional engineer

The differences between engineering instructors and professional engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a professional engineer has an average salary of $86,348, which is higher than the $50,652 average annual salary of an engineering instructor.

The top three skills for an engineering instructor include kids, professional development and engineering principles. The most important skills for a professional engineer are civil engineering, project management, and PE.

Engineering instructor vs professional engineer overview

Engineering InstructorProfessional Engineer
Yearly salary$50,652$86,348
Hourly rate$24.35$41.51
Growth rate12%7%
Number of jobs77,63174,009
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4641
Years of experience-6

What does an engineering instructor do?

Teachers who live to help aspiring students be the top engineers of their generation are called engineering instructors. They teach the theoretical aspects and necessary engineering skills to their students while providing a suitable room for learning. They must investigate new technology and share them with students while assisting them in the application. They must be sensitive enough to feel empathy for students who are having difficulty. Also, they ought to have the skills necessary to understand the lessons well.

What does a professional engineer do?

A professional engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and structures through different principles. Although their duties will vary upon their industry of employment, it typically includes performing site assessments and examinations, studying the purpose and goals of the project, developing plans and guidelines, monitoring the progress of operations, and resolving issues and concerns promptly and efficiently. They may work together with architects and senior engineers, liaise with clients or contractors, and perform regular site inspections. Furthermore, a professional engineer must implement safety protocols and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.

Engineering instructor vs professional engineer salary

Engineering instructors and professional engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Engineering InstructorProfessional Engineer
Average salary$50,652$86,348
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $76,000Between $63,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CityStamford, CTSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutAlaska
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictBayer
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between engineering instructor and professional engineer education

There are a few differences between an engineering instructor and a professional engineer in terms of educational background:

Engineering InstructorProfessional Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringCivil Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Engineering instructor vs professional engineer demographics

Here are the differences between engineering instructors' and professional engineers' demographics:

Engineering InstructorProfessional Engineer
Average age4641
Gender ratioMale, 81.5% Female, 18.5%Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 12.3% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%5%

Differences between engineering instructor and professional engineer duties and responsibilities

Engineering instructor example responsibilities.

  • Achieve highest GPA for any class in the history of the program.
  • Enrich student learning of robotics and computer programming with the LEGO Mindstorm robotic kits.
  • Conduct labs on PLC operations, advance motor control, service installation, and raceways.
  • Provide training on DC motor control systems and programmable logic controllers for surface mining equipment to employees and mining personnel worldwide.
  • Instruct students on OSHA regulations and procedures.
  • Conduct DC motor interface design seminar course.
  • Show more

Professional engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage custom product design & generate all require documentation for both customer and manufacturing groups using AutoCAD rel.
  • Create transmittals & submittals in Prolog.
  • Perform fit checks design using SolidWorks.
  • Review site plans for compliance with NCDOT policy.
  • Maintain the BOM data base and process engineering changes.
  • Create customer manuals, BOM s, and schematics.
  • Show more

Engineering instructor vs professional engineer skills

Common engineering instructor skills
  • Kids, 25%
  • Professional Development, 13%
  • Engineering Principles, 8%
  • Engineering Courses, 4%
  • Mathematics, 4%
  • Instructional Materials, 3%
Common professional engineer skills
  • Civil Engineering, 11%
  • Project Management, 9%
  • PE, 8%
  • Revit, 5%
  • Civil 3D, 4%
  • Engineering Design, 3%

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