Career and Technical Education Teachers
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts.
Work Environment: Most career and technical education teachers work in middle, high, and postsecondary schools, such as 2-year colleges. Others work in technical, trade, and business schools. Although they generally work during school hours, some teach evening or weekend classes.
How to Become One: Career and technical education teachers typically must have at least a bachelor’s degree. They also need work experience in the subject that they teach. Public school teachers may be required to have a state-issued teaching certification or license.
Salary: The median annual wage for career and technical education teachers is $61,160.
Job Outlook: Overall employment of career and technical education teachers is projected to grow 2 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of career and technical education teachers with similar occupations.
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Top 3 Career and Technical Education Teacher Jobs
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Special Education Teacher
- MJ CARE INC
- Beloit, WI
SUMMARY OF POSITIONThe Special Education Teacher provides direct services to students based on ... Attend career development/training as needed.LEVEL I ACCESSProtects access of Personal Health ...
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR EMPHASIS SPECIAL POPULATIONS
- Oklahoma Department of Career Technology
- Stillwater, OK
... education , teaching , student advisement, student recruitment, or guidance Knowledge and ... technical assistance to career and technology education personnel, special education personnel ...
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College Access Teacher
- Rocky Mountain Prep
- Denver, CO
The Senior Seminar Teacher plays a critical role in preparing 12th-grade students for life after high school, with a strong emphasis on post-secondary education , career readiness, and personal growth
What Career and Technical Education Teachers Do[About this section] [To Top]
Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. They teach academic and technical content to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.
Duties of Career and Technical Education Teachers
Career and technical education teachers typically do the following:
- Create lesson plans and assignments
- Instruct students on how to develop certain skills
- Show how to apply classroom knowledge through hands-on activities
- Demonstrate and supervise the safe and proper use of tools and equipment
- Monitor students' progress, assign tasks, and grade assignments
- Discuss students' progress with parents, students, and counselors
- Develop and enforce classroom rules and safety procedures
Career and technical education teachers help students explore and prepare to enter a specific occupation, in fields such as healthcare or information technology. They use a variety of teaching techniques to help students learn and develop skills related to a specific career or field of study. They demonstrate tasks, techniques, and tools used in an occupation. They may assign hands-on tasks, such as replacing brakes on cars, taking blood pressure, or recording vital signs. Teachers typically oversee these tasks in workshops and laboratories in the school.
Some teachers work with local businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide practical work experience for students. They also serve as advisers to students participating in career and technical student organizations.
The specific duties of career and technical education teachers vary by the grade and subject they teach. In middle schools and high schools, they teach general concepts in a classroom and practical exercises in workshops and laboratories.
In postsecondary schools, they teach specific career skills that help students earn a certificate, a diploma, or an associate's degree, and prepare them for a specific job. For example, welding instructors teach students various welding techniques and essential safety practices. They also monitor the use of tools and equipment, and have students practice procedures until they meet the specific standards required by the trade.
In most states, teachers in middle and high schools teach one subject within the 16 major career fields, also known as Career Clusters®. For example, the Career Cluster known as architecture and construction includes instruction in designing, planning, managing, building, and maintaining structures.
Teachers of courses in agricultural, food, and natural resources teach topics such as agricultural production; agriculture-related business; veterinary science; and plant, animal, and food systems. For example, they may have students plant and care for crops and tend to animals so that students can apply what they have learned in the classroom.
Career and technical education teachers in hospitality and tourism teach students in subjects such as nutrition, culinary arts, and hotel lodging. For example, teachers may instruct and supervise students in creating menus and preparing food.
Some teach the skills necessary to work as technicians and assistants, such as nursing and dental assistants in health-science occupations.
For information on all 16 major Career Clusters and programs in all other states, visit Advance CTE.
Work Environment for Career and Technical Education Teachers[About this section] [To Top]
Career and technical education teachers hold about 215,100 jobs. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up career and technical education teachers is distributed as follows:
| Postsecondary career/technical education teachers | 118,800 |
| Secondary school career/technical education teachers | 84,400 |
| Middle school career/technical education teachers | 11,900 |
The largest employers of career and technical education teachers are as follows:
| Junior colleges; state, local, and private | 22% |
| Technical and trade schools; state, local, and private | 20% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 8% |
Career and technical education teachers typically work in middle, high, and postsecondary schools, such as 2-year colleges. Others work in technical, trade, and business schools.
Career and Technical Education Teacher Work Schedules
Career and technical education teachers in middle and high schools generally work during school hours. They may meet with parents, students, and school staff before and after classes.
Some career and technical education teachers, especially those in postsecondary schools, teach courses and develop lesson plans during evening hours and on weekends.
Teachers usually work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break. Some teachers work for summer programs.
Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 9 weeks in a row, and then have a break for 3 weeks before starting a new school session.
How to Become a Career and Technical Education Teacher[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Career and Technical Education Teachers near you!
Career and technical education teachers must have at least a bachelor's degree. They also need work experience in the subject they teach. Some teachers, particularly those in public schools, also may be required to have a state-issued certification or license. Requirements for certification or licensure vary by state.
Education for Career and Technical Education Teachers
Career and technical education teachers generally need a bachelor's degree in the field they teach, such as agriculture, engineering, or computer science.
All states require prospective career and technical education teachers in public schools to complete a period of fieldwork called a student-teaching program, in which they work with a mentor teacher and get experience teaching students in a classroom setting. For information about teacher preparation programs in your state, visit Teach.org.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation for Career and Technical Education Teachers
Many career and technical education teachers need work experience in the field they teach. For example, automotive mechanics, chefs, and nurses typically spend years in their career before moving into teaching.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Career and Technical Education Teachers
States may require career and technical education teachers in public schools to be licensed or certified. Requirements for certification or licensure vary by state, but generally involve the following:
- A bachelor's degree with a minimum grade point average
- Completion of a teacher preparation program and supervised experience in teaching, which is typically gained through student teaching
- Passing a background check
- Passing a general teaching certification test, as well as a test that demonstrates their knowledge of the subject they will teach.
For information on certification requirements in your state, visit Teach.org.
Teachers may be required to complete annual professional development courses to maintain their license or certification. Some states offer an alternative route to certification or licensure for prospective teachers who have a bachelor's degree or work experience in their field but lack the education courses required for certification. Alternative programs typically cover teaching methods, development of lesson plans, and classroom management.
In addition to earning a teaching certification, career and technical education teachers who prepare students for an occupation that requires a license or certification may need to have and maintain the same credential. For example, career and technical education teachers who teach welding may need to have certification in welding.
Advancement for Career and Technical Education Teachers
Experienced teachers can advance to become mentors and lead teachers, helping less experienced teachers to improve their teaching skills.
Teachers may become school counselors, instructional coordinators, or principals. These positions generally require additional education, an advanced degree, or certification. An advanced degree in education administration or leadership may be helpful.
Important Qualities for Career and Technical Education Teachers
Communication skills. Career and technical education teachers must explain technical concepts in terms that students can understand.
Organizational skills. Career and technical education teachers have many students in different classes throughout the day. They must organize their time and teaching materials.
Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult. Teachers must be patient with each student in their classroom and develop a positive learning environment.
Resourcefulness. Teachers need to develop different ways of presenting information and demonstrating tasks so that all students learn the material.
Career and Technical Education Teacher Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for career and technical education teachers is $61,160. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,250, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,890.
Median annual wages for career and technical education teachers are as follows:
| Career/technical education teachers, secondary school | $61,820 |
| Career/technical education teachers, middle school | $61,820 |
| Vocational education teachers, postsecondary | $59,840 |
The median annual wages for career and technical education teachers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | $61,760 |
| Junior colleges; state, local, and private | $61,370 |
| Technical and trade schools; state, local, and private | $50,870 |
Career and technical education teachers in middle and high schools generally work during school hours. They may meet with parents, students, and school staff before and after classes.
Some career and technical education teachers, especially those in postsecondary schools, teach courses and develop lesson plans during evening hours and on weekends.
Teachers usually work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break. Some teachers work for summer programs.
Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 9 weeks in a row, and then have a break for 3 weeks before starting a new school session.
Job Outlook for Career and Technical Education Teachers[About this section] [To Top]
Overall employment of career and technical education teachers is projected to grow 2 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 17,200 openings for career and technical education teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Career and Technical Education Teachers
Some employment growth across all types of institutions is expected over the next 10 years due to continued demand for career and technical education programs in middle schools, high schools, and postsecondary institutions. However, this growth is expected to be reduced somewhat as schools continue to require students to take more academic classes.
In addition, public schools often depend on government funding for career and technical education programs. When budgets for these programs are reduced, employment growth for career and technical education teachers may be limited.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Career and technical education teachers | 215,100 | 220,500 | 2 | 5,400 |
| Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary | 118,800 | 120,900 | 2 | 2,100 |
| Career/technical education teachers, middle school | 11,900 | 12,300 | 3 | 400 |
| Career/technical education teachers, secondary school | 84,400 | 87,200 | 3 | 2,800 |
More Career and Technical Education Teacher Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about career and technical education teachers, visit
Association for Career and Technical Education
For more information about teaching and becoming a teacher, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.