Career/Technical Education Teachers (Postsecondary)
O*NET title: Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
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.
Also called: Accounting Teacher, Adjunct Instructor, Adult Education Instructor, Adult Education Teacher, After School Instructor, Apparel Machinery Instructor
Median pay
$63,820
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$41,960 – $108,620
People employed
114,110
Holland code
SIR
Social · Investigative · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Career/Technical Education Teachers (Postsecondary) pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Career/Technical Education Teachers (Postsecondary) salary in every state →
What career/technical education teachers (postsecondary) do
- 01Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.
- 02Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.
- 03Supervise and monitor students' use of tools and equipment.
- 04Administer oral, written, or performance tests to measure progress and to evaluate training effectiveness.
- 05Provide individualized instruction and tutorial or remedial instruction.
- 06Prepare reports and maintain records, such as student grades, attendance rolls, and training activity details.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Empathy
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from career/technical education teachers (postsecondary)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School80% · +4%
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School79% · +2%
- Training and Development Specialists71% · +9%
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School66% · +16%
- Occupational Therapy Assistants64% · +13%
Change into career/technical education teachers (postsecondary)
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School82% · $66,270
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School81% · $65,030
- Tutors70% · $43,350
- Dietetic Technicians66% · $37,640
- Self-Enrichment Teachers66% · $46,800
Majors that lead here
- Irrigation Management Technology/Technician
- Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming
- Farrier Science
- Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
- Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
- Computer Graphics
- Agricultural Teacher Education
- Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education
- Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education
- Sales and Marketing Operations/Marketing and Distribution Teacher Education
- Technical Teacher Education
- Trade and Industrial Teacher Education
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.