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Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the secondary school level.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $66,270 Median per year Most earn $50,040–$101,340

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
  • Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
  • 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.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 6,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Elementary and secondary schools98.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not usually an entry-level job straight out of school. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, then work 2 to 4 years in the trade or technical field they plan to teach before moving into the classroom, so the full path often takes 6 to 8 years or more.

  1. Bachelor's degree in your technical field or in education

    4 years

    You build a strong base in a subject like business, health, engineering, or culinary arts, and you learn how to teach, which gets you ready for the classroom.

  2. Entry-level job in your trade or technical field

    2-4 years

    You gain real, hands-on experience in the skill you will teach, which is the experience most schools look for in a CTE teacher.

  3. Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School

    Career-long

    You teach high school students the skills and knowledge for a specific career, using both classroom lessons and hands-on practice. Your state will set any teaching license or certification you need.

Where it can lead

  1. Instructional Coordinator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move from teaching to planning curriculum, training other teachers, and checking how well lessons work across a school or district. Most roles of this kind ask for a master's degree.

  2. Career/Technical Education Teacher, Postsecondary

    4-6 years of experience first

    You teach your trade at a college or technical school instead of high school, usually working with adult students. Schools often ask for an associate degree and several years of experience in the field.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take career and technical education classesHands-on courses in your area of interest show you what teaching a trade involves and build real skills.
  • Join a career or technical student clubClub activities help you practice leadership, teamwork, and presenting, which are key for teaching.
  • Take English, speaking, and public speaking classesTeachers explain ideas clearly every day, so strong communication skills matter a lot in this job.
  • Get a part-time or summer job in a trade or service fieldWorking in your chosen field now gives you the real-world experience that schools expect later.
  • Volunteer as a peer tutor or helperHelping classmates learn a skill gives you a first taste of teaching and shows whether you enjoy it.

In college

  • Major in education or in your technical field and consider a minor in the otherA subject degree gives you expertise, and an education course load prepares you to teach.
  • Complete a student teaching or classroom observation placementHands-on teaching experience shows whether you enjoy the work and gives you examples for job applications.
  • Look for an internship in your tradeIndustry experience is what you will need to meet the 2 to 4 years of work experience most schools ask for.
  • Earn an industry certification in your field if one is availableA recognized credential proves your skills to employers and to schools hiring CTE teachers.
  • Work as a campus tutor, lab assistant, or teaching assistantCampus jobs let you practice explaining material to others and build teaching experience while you study.

Tips for getting started

  • Pick a technical area you know well from real work or hobbies, since schools value practical skill as much as a degree.
  • Look up your state's requirements for CTE teaching licenses early, because they vary and can include work experience and extra coursework.
  • Ask a CTE teacher at your school if you can shadow them or talk with them about their path.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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