Career/technical education teachers, secondary school salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,040 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $66,270 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $72,680 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $101,340 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Career/technical education teachers, secondary school pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $59,470 | $53,230 | $62,290 | ||
| Alaska | $78,130 | $59,190 | $99,690 | 170 | 0.71 |
| Arizona | $62,980 | $46,480 | $100,480 | 660 | 0.29 |
| Arkansas | $61,780 | $51,130 | $76,620 | 1,000 | 1.08 |
| California | $80,620 | $60,590 | $126,170 | 3,260 | 0.25 |
| Colorado | $72,750 | $48,120 | $100,830 | 1,250 | 0.61 |
| Connecticut | $100,810 | $77,410 | $115,980 | 1,910 | 1.57 |
| Delaware | $79,230 | $62,010 | $95,920 | 560 | 1.61 |
| Florida | $62,140 | $49,540 | $78,860 | 6,820 | 0.96 |
| Georgia | $78,760 | $58,570 | $98,450 | 1,680 | 0.48 |
| Idaho | $60,510 | $50,660 | $77,080 | 1,140 | 1.85 |
| Illinois | $77,950 | $48,540 | $132,830 | 2,780 | 0.64 |
| Indiana | $56,390 | $44,020 | $77,880 | 1,310 | 0.57 |
| Iowa | $57,660 | $43,650 | $75,930 | 640 | 0.57 |
| Kansas | $58,300 | $46,240 | $73,300 | 1,050 | 1.02 |
| Kentucky | $61,130 | $48,760 | $83,320 | 330 | 0.23 |
| Louisiana | $61,300 | $47,660 | $79,960 | 1,530 | 1.1 |
| Maine | $78,050 | $51,290 | $88,330 | 170 | 0.37 |
| Maryland | $78,320 | $62,040 | $109,770 | 690 | 0.35 |
| Massachusetts | $98,020 | $77,530 | $111,560 | 3,130 | 1.2 |
| Michigan | $77,400 | $48,370 | $96,040 | 1,800 | 0.57 |
| Minnesota | $71,650 | $48,210 | $100,440 | 880 | 0.42 |
| Mississippi | $57,910 | $47,300 | $70,400 | 1,770 | 2.12 |
| Missouri | $59,300 | $45,890 | $81,130 | 2,000 | 0.95 |
| Montana | $55,190 | $45,690 | $85,290 | 260 | 0.72 |
| Nebraska | $63,180 | $46,160 | $79,280 | 1,310 | 1.78 |
| Nevada | $64,510 | $55,010 | $83,410 | 150 | 0.13 |
| New Hampshire | $76,320 | $51,960 | $90,960 | 450 | 0.92 |
| New Jersey | $83,770 | $62,210 | $106,540 | 2,320 | 0.76 |
| New Mexico | $66,750 | $51,830 | $78,790 | 100 | 0.17 |
| New York | $79,820 | $59,490 | $130,160 | 7,610 | 1.1 |
| North Carolina | $58,600 | $46,850 | $69,590 | 2,650 | 0.75 |
| North Dakota | $61,500 | $48,520 | $79,870 | 640 | 2.08 |
| Ohio | $79,230 | $56,030 | $101,300 | 5,130 | 1.29 |
| Oklahoma | $58,800 | $46,290 | $83,650 | 1,170 | 0.96 |
| Oregon | $78,380 | $49,720 | $96,870 | 750 | 0.53 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,760 | $50,040 | $103,430 | 4,840 | 1.11 |
| Puerto Rico | $53,160 | $49,260 | $65,270 | 1,110 | 1.65 |
| Rhode Island | $81,820 | $65,280 | $95,000 | 90 | 0.25 |
| South Carolina | $72,120 | $50,620 | $98,060 | 1,150 | 0.7 |
| South Dakota | $56,070 | $46,990 | $61,500 | 360 | 1.1 |
| Tennessee | $61,700 | $49,480 | $77,450 | 2,940 | 1.25 |
| Texas | $64,610 | $53,150 | $77,070 | 32,250 | 3.2 |
| Utah | $72,380 | $48,650 | $93,850 | 730 | 0.59 |
| Vermont | $79,220 | $62,090 | $99,730 | 220 | 1.01 |
| Virginia | $75,580 | $52,710 | $101,750 | 3,500 | 1.19 |
| Washington | $101,180 | $69,270 | $127,890 | 3,460 | 1.36 |
| West Virginia | $57,760 | $50,490 | $69,390 | 1,000 | 1.99 |
| Wisconsin | $74,310 | $50,610 | $93,790 | 1,420 | 0.67 |
| Wyoming | $62,570 | $50,420 | $79,450 | 210 | 1.02 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Agricultural Teacher Education CIP 13.1301
- Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education CIP 13.1303
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education CIP 13.1308
- Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education CIP 13.1309
- Sales and Marketing Operations/Marketing and Distribution Teacher Education CIP 13.1310
- Technical Teacher Education CIP 13.1319
- Trade and Industrial Teacher Education CIP 13.1320
- Health Occupations Teacher Education CIP 13.1327
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Prepare materials and classroom for class activities.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Instruct students in the knowledge and skills required in a specific occupation or occupational field, using a systematic plan of lectures, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and laboratory, shop, and field studies.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injury and damage.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Blackboard Learn
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- DOC Cop
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- Edmodo
- Edpuzzle
- Email software
- Image scanning software
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Agricultural Education Teacher, Auto Technology Instructor (Automotive Technology Instructor), Career and Technical Education Teacher (CTE Teacher), Cosmetology Teacher, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher (FACS Teacher), Instructor, Teacher, Technology Education Teacher, Vocational Teacher, Welding Instructor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do career/technical education teachers, secondary school make?
The national median annual wage for career/technical education teachers, secondary school was $66,270 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $50,040 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $101,340. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do career/technical education teachers, secondary school need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is career/technical education teachers, secondary school a growing career?
BLS projects employment of career/technical education teachers, secondary school to change -0.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay career/technical education teachers, secondary school the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($101,180), Connecticut ($100,810), Massachusetts ($98,020). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.