Web Developer
Median wage · national
$92,650
Range: $64K – $126K
Employed
70K
Openings/yr
5K
Typically: bachelor's degree
TRADES
Career/Technical Education Teachers
Career/Technical Education Teachers earn $63,820 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $50,320 and $82,360. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Career/Technical Education Teachers
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a career/technical education teachers: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Teaching Specific Subjects and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.
- Median Wage
- $63,820
- Employed Nationally
- 114K
- Openings / Year
- 8,000
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Accounting Teacher
Adjunct Instructor
Adult Education Instructor
Adult Education Teacher
After School Instructor
How Much Do Career/Technical Education Teachers Make?
Most career/technical education teachers take home around $63,820 a year, about what a typical college graduate makes. Half earn somewhere between $50,320 and $82,360, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$63,820
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$50K–$82K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$50,320
Entry-level
$63,820
Median
$82,360
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $72,060, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Career/Technical Education Teachers Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.
- Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.
- Supervise and monitor students' use of tools and equipment.
- Administer oral, written, or performance tests to measure progress and to evaluate training effectiveness.
- Provide individualized instruction and tutorial or remedial instruction.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Learning Strategies
Instructing
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Where Do Career/Technical Education Teachers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Career/Technical Education Teachers?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by -0.3%, meaning it is shrinking, so expect more competition for fewer roles. Around 8,000 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↘ -0.3%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Declining employment projected.
8,000
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
114K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Career/Technical Education Teachers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $63,820 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 12,620 | $65,180 | +2.1% |
| 2 | California | 11,040 | $76,630 | +20.1% |
| 3 | Florida | 7,600 | $59,990 | -6.0% |
| 4 | North Carolina | 6,510 | $62,390 | -2.2% |
| 5 | New York | 5,250 | $75,170 | +17.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 6 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Ground Transportation program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teaching Specific Subjects | 40,101 | $51,389 | 1,276 |
| 2 | Ground Transportation | 24,115 | — | 308 |
| 3 | Computer Software & Media | 14,684 | $58,894 | 726 |
| 4 | Fire Protection | 13,533 | $86,436 | 488 |
| 5 | Agricultural Mechanization | 1,402 | $71,278 | 90 |
| 6 | Agricultural and Domestic Animal | 1,217 | $40,334 | 75 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Career/Technical Education Teachers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 5 | Rice University Houston, TX | 91 | $13,370 | $89,718 |
| 6 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | 91 | $12,116 | $102,772 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Career/Technical Education Teachers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Career/Technical Education Teachers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Career/Technical Education Teachers Pros & Cons
Career/Technical Education Teachers has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 1 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
PROS
- Competitive salary $63,820 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
CONS
- Declining employment The BLS projects -0.3% employment change through 2035. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
- Limited annual openings With only 8,000 openings per year relative to field size, competition for available positions is intense. Networking and experience matter more here than in higher-turnover fields.
Career/Technical Education Teachers Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Career/Technical Education Teachers professionals earn?
Around $63,820 a year for the typical worker, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $50,320 and $82,360. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Career/Technical Education Teachers a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -0.3% employment change through 2035. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $63,820 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How do I become a Career/Technical Education Teachers?
Most Career/Technical Education Teachers positions require a bachelor's degree as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Teaching Specific Subjects are common starting points.
Why are Career/Technical Education Teachers jobs declining?
The BLS projects -0.3% employment change for Career/Technical Education Teachers through 2035. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 8,000 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 114K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
What skills do Career/Technical Education Teachers professionals need?
Mainly Learning Strategies, Instructing, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, and Speaking. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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