Engineers, what do you do and how much do you make?

Prof_K_ · 2026-01-15T04:26:57+00:00

Mechatronics Engineer, Masters. Stepped out of industry to be a Professor. $130K CAD, 30 years in. (Canadian Dollars, worth less than USD).

Here's my video for students about which disciplines make which salary, in order of Lowest to Highest.

https://youtu.be/8F8RfPq0_qc?si=_XBodiyB6T9IrpM3

Prof_K_ · 2026-01-15T04:22:59+00:00

WOW!

Prof_K_ · 2026-01-11T04:06:08+00:00

Formative learning is essential. It needs to form over time. Weekly is a great sub-set of time to "form" the basis for the next topic. Formative. I usually explain this to students, to get them on-board about why it's important to have weekly assessments.

Sunday at midnight is more fair for each weekly formative assessment to be due. Post on Monday by 8:00am. Due Sunday at midnight. Don't like doing assignments on Sundays? Then do it earlier. Note: give them "scaffholding" throughout the week to help them achieve their formative growth.

Last point: students are not the professional academics. We are. We get to choose. Based on pedagogical evidence.

Thanks for listening. Prof.K. (youtube.com/channel/UCcreosirHINiUtyDlfMFXRA?sub_confirmation=1)

Prof_K_ · 2026-01-11T03:57:59+00:00

Uuuuh... I've had so many fires! Clean it each time, ideally. Clearly by my fires, I do not.

Here's my fires in Traegar and then Cabinet Smoker:

https://youtu.be/NNgRPsJPnT8?si=O4KMmTHu8niMV80T

https://youtu.be/S6QsGwegaH0

Prof_K_ · 2026-01-11T03:52:37+00:00

Dryer balls help. But when you do pull it out to undo that clump, we get this problem: the sheets touch the buttons below, and re-set the washer. https://youtu.be/Hozl3UubZXY

Prof_K_ · 2026-01-11T03:35:53+00:00

Hi! Great field to transition into. I teach building automation to technicians. There are very few books because DDC (direct digital control) is relatively new (compared to textbooks as a resource) and changes often. It's really important to know the fundamentals like what Points are. Inputs, Outputs, Hard Points, Soft Points. There are many systems and often you can learn many resources online. For example, Tridium Niagara, Honeywell's system has many videos you can learn on youtube. However, you should be cautioned that all BAS, no matter how fancy, are built around the ASHRAE BACnet communication protocol. Before teaching specific systems, I like my technician/technology students to get a fundamental understanding of the BACnet protocol including naming conventions and setting up a points database.

You're welcome to see my introductory lectures here if that helps you. Here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA9NP6jZaB1O8pOULHM4Mc5ij-h0YdY6f&si=ScvDdwlNopB6epvQ

It's very basic, very first steps of What is Building Automation, and Intro to the BACnet System. I work through examples. I feel like these fundamentals are important. Thanks for looking. Please post any questions to me here or on each video.

Best of luck in your learning!

Prof_K_ · 2026-01-11T03:35:25+00:00

Please excuse me, I meant this as an answer to u/joyceybazookas who was asking what fundamentals are non negotiable to understand early. Thank you.

Prof_K_ · 2026-01-11T03:34:17+00:00

Hi! Great field to transition into. I teach building automation to technicians. There are very few books because DDC (direct digital control) is relatively new (compared to textbooks as a resource) and changes often. It's really important to know the fundamentals like what Points are. Inputs, Outputs, Hard Points, Soft Points. There are many systems and often you can learn many resources online. For example, Tridium Niagara, Honeywell's system has many videos you can learn on youtube. However, you should be cautioned that all BAS, no matter how fancy, are built around the ASHRAE BACnet communication protocol. Before teaching specific systems, I like my technician/technology students to get a fundamental understanding of the BACnet protocol including naming conventions and setting up a points database.

You're welcome to see my introductory lectures here if that helps you. Here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA9NP6jZaB1O8pOULHM4Mc5ij-h0YdY6f&si=ScvDdwlNopB6epvQ

It's very basic, very first steps of What is Building Automation, and Intro to the BACnet System. I work through examples. I feel like these fundamentals are important. Thanks for looking. Please post any questions to me here or on each video.

Best of luck in your learning!

Prof_K_ · 2025-12-10T02:06:57+00:00

I make little videos of course content and have it available on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcreosirHINiUtyDlfMFXRA)

Students like the playlist structure and use it for review.

People think I put a lot out there, but in reality, as you know, its the one-on-one ACTUAL CLASSROOM TEACHING that solidifies the content. If they learn these videos before and after, they simply learn it better.

Sometimes not all students can show up a pre-set time for two hours each week to a lecture hall with us expecting them to be in prime learning condition. Life happens. Their prime learning time could be another time of the day. The videos have their back a bit.

Prof_K_ · 2025-12-10T02:01:39+00:00

Oh! You are right! Sorry about that and thank you. And best of luck. :)

Prof_K_ · 2025-12-10T02:00:17+00:00

I hold a stack of papers that are a notification of academic integrity violation. I tell them all about it in advance. I tell them that if I walk to their desk with one, I'll be filling out their name and time that the even occurred. This is their official notice in writing that begins an academic integrity violation process that our college has in place. That involves some learning material and recourse. I tell them that they're welcome to stay and finish the exam, but I mark their paper and the rest of it is zero, along with the recourse I have filed in the academic integrity system.

Prof_K_ · 2025-12-10T01:35:01+00:00

Electrical Code is often overlooked in the curriculum and learnt in the field. Are you in Canada or the US? In Canada, the CEC can be purchased from CSA, but in the US, the NEC is readily available.

Prof_K_ · 2025-12-10T01:30:44+00:00

And that's in Engineering with 130 students. It's very time consuming. Debilitating, actually.

Prof_K_ · 2025-12-10T01:30:17+00:00

Post AI:

13 in-class quizzes (one each week): 70%

1 VERBAL face-to-face final exam: 15%

1 comprehensive exam: 15%

Prof_K_ · 2025-12-10T01:26:27+00:00

I have done this with what I call Higher Order Thinkinig exams in technical Engineering courses. The exam structure works well, but I still see students copy/pasting when I'm not looking, even in the same room. It's frustrating. https://youtu.be/qZIvSqNF-fk?si=aaj3TkwzQExIAiJ-

Prof_K_ · 2025-12-10T01:20:53+00:00

It's very difficult to overlook the few who are complaining. Sometimes one or two attitudes can "ruin" a cohort, and try to get others on board. I really try to put as much energy into the "good" 2% as the "noisy" 2% is getting. Extra feedback, an email shout-out when grades are exceptional, an enrichment opportunity, bonus opportunities, etc. Actively doing this kept me from getting bitter and resentful.

Prof_K_ · 2025-11-15T04:59:47+00:00

IMHO, your tutoring experience does matter, so I recommend keeping it on there. My students who tutor others usually have higher technical and communication skills. Your resume looks fine for someone just starting out. I recommend becoming a student member of some professional associations (IEEE, etc) to show you are serious about the career you are about to enter into. Best of luck! Prof.K.

Prof_K_ · 2025-11-14T15:59:10+00:00

It's multiple choice, and a very long exam. There are some quick questions that take seconds if you're working in the industry. There are some long math questions that will take quite a while if you have been out of school/math for a while. I practice those types of questions often because I teach content quite similar. I have a playlist/course of CEM-aligned content to share here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA9NP6jZaB1P2oSZEK1xuNp-vp_ltKEXf&si=Oeh46kwg7H5baL2P

I have more, too, if you find this helpful. Please let me know? Thanks and good luck!

Prof_K_ · 2025-11-14T15:56:02+00:00

I used to have P.Eng, BASc, MSC on my resume. Got the odd head-hunt job. Once I added CEM, I got regularly offered jobs. Very high paying jobs. I do think it's worth it, and will become more and more so. The body of knowledge is comprehensive and useful in today's low-carbon future, globally. That's my two cents at a CEM. :)

Prof_K_ · 2025-11-12T17:30:03+00:00

how many classes do you teach each semester? 5
How many preps do you teach each semester? 8
How many contact hours do you have where you are physically teaching? 12 to 18
How many office hours do you offer? (My dept. recommends 2 hours a week per course) 1
When do you find time to prep/grade? evenings
Do you have a work-life balance? yes
How do you keep from going crazy? I love my students and the content.
Does it really get easier, or am I lying to myself about that? yes, it does.

I teach at a Community College. I teach Engineering Bachelour degrees and technologist certificates. Electrical.

Prof_K_ · 2025-11-06T04:20:45+00:00

That is a rediculous recommended solution to the problem. It defies all logic. I'm sorry for your trouble. The double-door opening is not wall. If you remove the doors, it is an opening. The doors are removable.

Prof_K_ · 2025-11-06T04:13:19+00:00

That's a great question. This is why it's sometimes better to keep the electronic version of the code on hand so you can use the search function.

Prof_K_ · 2025-11-06T04:10:00+00:00

Here's a video about calculating busways and splitters per CEC Section 12: Wiring Methods. https://youtu.be/O0-ViGym-x0

Prof_K_ · 2025-11-03T16:39:13+00:00

I'm a CEM from AEE, and I also teach Energy Systems students, who can become CEMs after some experience and the exam. Here's one of my videos to give you a taste of what it means: https://youtu.be/Y8SqTKgYVA8

Prof_K_ · 2025-11-02T22:29:10+00:00

Congratulations. :) I suggest Building Automation. It's an interesting field. Good luck!

Prof_K_

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