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Professor Jobs in Worcester, MA (NOW HIRING)

Worcester Polytech

Assistant Professor

Worcester, MA

$105K - $118K/yr

JOB TITLE Assistant Professor LOCATION Worcester DEPARTMENT NAME Mechanical & Materials Engineering DIVISION NAME Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI SUMMARY The Mechanical and Materials ...

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$188.6K

How much do professor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for professor in Worcester, MA is $114,542.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,300.00 and $121,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a professor?

A professor teaches courses at a college or a university in a specific subject. As a professor, your job duties consist of developing curricula, creating lessons, giving lectures, advising students, and grading coursework. Other responsibilities involve staying current in their field by performing research, reading academic materials, and attending conferences. You often start your academic career as an adjunct professor, working part-time and teaching a few courses. Some schools also have online courses run by online professors. After working for several years, college professors may gain tenure at their university, giving them a high level of job stability and freedom for their research.

What do professors do?

Professors are academic professionals who teach at colleges or universities. Their primary responsibilities include delivering lectures, conducting research, mentoring students, and publishing scholarly work. In addition to teaching, professors often participate in academic committees and contribute to curriculum development. They may also advise undergraduate and graduate students, supervise research projects, and engage in community or professional service. Professors typically specialize in a particular field of study and help advance knowledge in their discipline.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a professor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Professor, you need advanced subject matter expertise, a doctoral degree in your field, and a strong record of research and teaching experience. Familiarity with learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard), academic publishing platforms, and citation tools is typically required. Outstanding communication, mentorship, and organizational skills help foster student engagement and contribute to scholarly communities. These competencies ensure effective knowledge transfer, research innovation, and academic leadership.

How do professors typically balance teaching, research, and service responsibilities within a university setting?

Professors often juggle multiple responsibilities, including teaching courses, conducting research, and contributing to departmental or university service such as committee work or student advising. The specific balance can vary by institution and department, but most professors allocate set hours to prepare lectures, meet with students, and pursue research projects. Time management and prioritization are essential skills, as professors frequently need to meet deadlines for publications or grant applications while fulfilling their teaching and service commitments. Collaboration with colleagues, both within and outside the university, is common, and many professors find that building a supportive network helps manage these diverse tasks effectively.

What is the difference between Professor vs Lecturer?

AspectProfessorLecturer
Required CredentialsDoctorate degree, extensive research, and teaching experienceMaster's or Doctorate, often less research-focused
Work EnvironmentUniversities, research institutions, academic settingsUniversities, colleges, sometimes part-time or adjunct roles
Employer & Industry UsageHigher education institutions, research-focusedEducational institutions, teaching-focused

Professors typically hold a doctorate, engage in research, and have a long-term academic role, whereas lecturers focus primarily on teaching and may have less emphasis on research. Both roles are common in higher education but differ in responsibilities and qualifications.

How do I get a job as a professor?

To become a professor, typically a candidate needs a doctoral degree in their field, relevant research experience, and a strong record of publications. Academic positions often require applying through university job boards, submitting a curriculum vitae, and demonstrating teaching and research skills during interviews.

Is there a demand for professors?

Professors are in steady demand in higher education institutions, especially in fields like science, technology, engineering, and healthcare. Employment growth varies by region and discipline but generally aligns with the expansion of post-secondary education and research activities.

What can I do as a professor?

A professor is an academic professional who teaches courses, conducts research, publishes scholarly work, and mentors students at colleges or universities. They often specialize in a specific subject area and may participate in departmental service, committee work, and academic conferences. Professors typically hold advanced degrees such as a Ph.D. and require strong communication, research, and organizational skills.
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Infographic showing various Professor job openings in Worcester, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, 25% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,542 per year, or $55.1 per hour.

Assistant Professor

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA • On-site

$105K - $118K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

JOB TITLE
Assistant Professor
LOCATION
Worcester
DEPARTMENT NAME
Mechanical & Materials Engineering
DIVISION NAME
Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI
JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
The Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) seeks applicants for a tenure-track faculty position in the area of Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Mechatronics and Controls available at the assistant professor level.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The successful candidate will possess a strong background in Mechatronics and Controls, demonstrate proficiency in applying AI techniques to these application areas, and strengthen the connection with the Robotics Engineering Department. Expertise in intelligent sensing and perception, cyber-physical systems, data-driven modeling and control, and AI/deep learning is essential. Applications may include autonomous systems and mobility, intelligent infrastructure, human-robot interaction, smart health, advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0/5.0, mechatronics for sustainability, and other areas complementary to the department's existing strengths. A proven ability to integrate multidisciplinary methodologies to solve complex challenges is highly desirable. The candidate will be expected to develop an active externally funded research program and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical engineering. Candidate is required to have a PhD or equivalent degree in mechanical engineering, robotics engineering, or another relevant discipline. This position may be appointed to 25% or a more suitable fraction in the Robotics Engineering Department, as agreed by the successful candidate and the two departments. This position is expected to be filled at the Assistant Professor level. For experienced candidates, rank will be commensurate with experience.
The Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department at WPI (https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/mechanical-materials-engineering) has 27 dual-mission faculty, 9 full-time teaching faculty, and 12 research faculty. MME offers undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering to over 1100 students. The department offers graduate degrees in mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, and manufacturing engineering to about 200 graduate students. The department's annual externally sponsored research expenditures have exceeded $16M.
WPI Robotics Engineering Department (www.wpi.edu/+RBE) is the first-of-its-kind department in the nation with a vision to be an exemplary multidisciplinary center of education, research, and innovation in robotics. It is built on an ABET-accredited Robotics Engineering program. RBE counts ~800 undergraduate and graduate students and offers robotics engineering BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees. In 2016 the Robotics Engineering program was awarded the inaugural ABET Innovation Award for its truly interdisciplinary, project-based curriculum. The department has 23 faculty members and 20+ affiliated faculty members. Our faculty has research support from NSF, NIH, AFRL, Army, ONR, NASA, DARPA, and industry funding. We expect the new faculty member to contribute to the exceptionally close-knit, collaborative, and collegial atmosphere we currently enjoy
WPI's reputation as a rigorous and innovative university rests on the shoulders of its faculty. A highly selective, private technological university and one of the nation's first, WPI believes that when great minds work together, great advances follow. At WPI the boundaries to multidisciplinary collaboration are low - faculty members, students, and other partners work together on the real-world projects and purposeful research that are hallmarks of the WPI experience. Located one hour west of Boston, the university's campus is in Worcester, Massachusetts, a thriving 21st century college city recognized as a growing hub of scientific and technological innovation.
Applications should include curriculum vitae, statements of teaching and research interests, and a list of five professional references submitted. This search will remain open until the position is filled. Questions can be addressed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Professor Zhu Mao, zmao2@wpi.edu.
Compensation: $105,000 - $118,000 per year. Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity
FLSA STATUS
United States of America (Exempt)
WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. It seeks individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination.

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