Career/Technical Education Teachers (Secondary School)
O*NET title: Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
Also called: Technical Education Teachers, Secondary
Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Also called: Agricultural Education Instructor, Agricultural Education Teacher, Agriculture Education Instructor, Agriculture Teacher, Agriscience Instructor, Allied Health Teacher
Median pay
$66,270
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$50,040 – $101,340
People employed
111,420
Holland code
SCA
Social · Conventional · Artistic
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.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 2.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 3.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Career/Technical Education Teachers (Secondary School) pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Career/Technical Education Teachers (Secondary School) salary in every state →
What career/technical education teachers (secondary school) do
- 01Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- 02Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- 03Prepare materials and classroom for class activities.
- 04Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- 05Instruct 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.
- 06Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injury and damage.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Stress Tolerance
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- 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 (secondary school)
- Instructional Coordinators83% · +17%
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary82% · −4%
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary82% · +14%
- Training and Development Specialists81% · +5%
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors81% · −7%
Change into career/technical education teachers (secondary school)
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Training and Development Specialists84% · $69,280
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term83% · $41,670
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary82% · $75,870
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors81% · $61,540
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary80% · $63,820
Majors that lead here
- Agricultural Teacher Education
- Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics 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
- Health Occupations Teacher Education
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.