CareerFacts

All careers › Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Career and technical education teacher (postsecondary): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$63,820median pay per year, or $30.68 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $41,960lowest 10% earn less
  2. $50,32025th percentile
  3. $63,820median
  4. $82,36075th percentile
  5. $108,620top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Postsecondary career and technical education teachers earned a median of $63,820 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to dip 0.3% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-0.3%[2]
Openings per year
8,000[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do postsecondary career and technical education teachers make?

The median wage was $63,820 a year, or $30.68 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean wage was $72,060 a year, or $34.64 an hour[7]. For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,960, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $50,320[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $82,360, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $108,620[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][9] $41,960 $20.17
25th percentile[3][9] $50,320 $24.19
Median[1] $63,820 $30.68
75th percentile[3][9] $82,360 $39.60
90th percentile[3][9] $108,620 $52.22

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[10]. About 114,110 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Wisconsin had the highest state median at $82,620 a year, followed by South Carolina at $79,610 and Massachusetts at $78,780[12]. Kansas had the lowest listed median at $48,790[12].

Texas had the most jobs at 12,620, then California at 11,040 and Florida at 7,600[13]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Ann Arbor, MI had the highest median at $108,400, followed by Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC at $106,370[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 4,820, with a median of $78,540[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Wisconsin[12]$82,6202,000
South Carolina$79,6101,980
Massachusetts$78,7801,660
Washington$77,5303,610
Alaska$77,3101,120
Minnesota$76,9201,510
California$76,63011,040
New York$75,1705,250
Wyoming$74,210360
North Dakota$73,570430
South Dakota$72,940350
New Jersey$72,4402,590
Colorado$70,1302,060
Oklahoma$67,0603,040
Oregon$65,4301,140
Rhode Island$65,210310
West Virginia$65,200300
Texas$65,18012,620
New Hampshire$65,040220
Arizona$64,9302,190
Michigan$63,4403,480
Pennsylvania$63,1604,780
Alabama$62,5802,350
Illinois$62,4804,420
Vermont$62,450210
Delaware$62,400190
North Carolina$62,3906,510
Tennessee$62,3102,140
Iowa$62,2701,170
Maryland$62,060780
Maine$61,740510
Nevada$61,740950
Kentucky$61,0801,560
Ohio$60,6003,440
Nebraska$60,490470
New Mexico$60,4901,070
Georgia$60,3203,920
Florida$59,9907,600
Idaho$59,730570
Missouri$59,6401,630
Connecticut$59,4201,130
District of Columbia$59,220n/a
Indiana$57,8202,250
Virginia$57,8201,860
Montana$57,270430
Louisiana$56,480780
Hawaii$51,99070
Utah$50,7402,280
Mississippi$50,6701,030
Arkansas$50,1201,550
Kansas$48,7901,160

How to become a postsecondary career and technical education teacher

The usual path looks like this[6]:

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile covers a wider group of occupations than this page, so the details below describe that group[16]. It says teachers usually need a bachelor's degree in the field they teach, along with experience in that field[17][18]. It gives examples of people who work in their trade for years before moving into teaching[19].

Public schools may require a state teaching certification or license, and the rules vary by state[17][20]. Requirements often include a background check and tests of teaching and subject knowledge[21][22]. Public school teachers in all states complete student teaching with a mentor[23]. Some states offer an alternative route for people with a bachelor's degree or work experience but no education courses[24]. If the subject leads to a licensed trade, the teacher may need to hold that credential too[25].

In an O*NET survey of 36 workers, 42% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree was required, and 20% said a bachelor's degree[26]. The survey is small, so treat it as a rough sketch.

What postsecondary career and technical education teachers do

They teach job skills below the bachelor's level in fields such as construction, repair, manufacturing, transportation or cosmetology[27]. Their students are mostly people who finished or left high school[27]. Common tasks include:

Sample job titles include automotive instructor, cosmetology instructor, flight instructor and HVAC-R instructor[29].

Where they work

The OOH profile for the wider group says these teachers are found in middle schools, high schools and postsecondary schools, including 2-year colleges, and in technical, trade and business schools[30]. Some, especially in postsecondary schools, teach in the evening and on weekends[31]. Teachers usually follow a 10-month school year with a summer break[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 123,100 to 122,700 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[33]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

Even so, about 8,000 openings are projected each year[5]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The pay sits above the all-occupations median, at $63,820 compared with $50,980[1][4]. Entry usually asks for a bachelor's degree and some related work experience, with no on-the-job training[6]. The job count is projected to shrink slightly, but openings still come up every year[2][5]. Pay also varies a lot by state, so it is worth checking your own area[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a postsecondary career and technical education teacher make?
The median was $63,820 a year, or $30.68 an hour, in May 2025[1].
What degree do you need to teach career and technical education at a college?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, with less than 5 years of related work experience[6].
Is career and technical education teaching in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, but about 8,000 openings are projected each year[2][5].
What is the highest paying state for postsecondary career and technical education teachers?
Wisconsin, with a median of $82,620 a year[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $63,820 per year and $30.68 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 123,100 to 122,700 jobs (a change of -400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $41,960, 25th percentile $50,320, 75th percentile $82,360, 90th percentile $108,620. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 8,000 openings for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary was $72,060 per year and $34.64 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $20.17, 25th percentile $24.19, 75th percentile $39.60, 90th percentile $52.22. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 114,110 people were employed as Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: Texas 12,620; California 11,040; Florida 7,600; North Carolina 6,510; New York 5,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Ann Arbor, MI $108,400; Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $106,370; Lebanon, PA $105,090; Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $97,440; Appleton, WI $96,900; Worcester, MA $96,840; Bismarck, ND $95,740; New Haven, CT $95,730. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 4,820 (median $78,540); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,670 (median $75,450); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,160 (median $63,100); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3,110 (median $61,360); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 2,490 (median $63,420); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 2,440 (median $74,570). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Career and Technical Education Teachers" covers Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET 25-1194.00 survey of workers (36 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 42%, Bachelor's Degree 20%, Post-Secondary Certificate 16%, Master's Degree 8%, Some College Courses 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET description of Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 25-1194.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Automotive Instructor, Automotive Technology Instructor, Cosmetology Instructor, Flight Instructor, HVAC-R Instructor (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, And Refrigeration Instructor), Instructor, Professor, Teacher. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.