Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Career or Technical
Education
Teacher Teachers need years of experience in their field of expertise. Career and technical education teachers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree and work experience in the subject they teach. Public schools may require a state-issued teaching certification or license. Education Career and technical education teachers generally need a bachelor’s degree in the field they teach, such as agriculture, engineering, or computer and information technology. All states require prospective career and technical education teachers in public schools to complete a period of fieldwork, called a student-teaching program, in which they work with a mentor teacher and get experience teaching students in a classroom. Work Experience in a Related Occupation Many career and technical education teachers need work experience in the field they teach. For example, automotive mechanics, chefs, and nurses typically spend years in their career before moving into teaching.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
States may require career and technical education teachers in public schools to be licensed or certified. Requirements for certification or licensure vary by state, but generally involve the following: A bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average Completion of a student-teaching program Passing a background check Passing a general teaching certification test, as well as a test that demonstrates their knowledge of the subject they will teach. Career and technical education teachers who prepare students for an occupation that requires a license or certification may need to have and maintain the same credential. For example, career and technical education teachers who teach welding may need to have certification in welding. In addition, teachers may be required to complete annual professional development courses to maintain their license or certification. Some states offer an alternative route to certification or licensure for prospective teachers who have a bachelor’s degree or work experience in their field but lack the education courses required for certification. Alternative programs typically cover teaching methods, development of lesson plans, and classroom management. Advancement Experienced teachers may advance to become mentors or lead teachers, helping less experienced teachers to improve their teaching skills. Teachers may become school counselors, instructional coordinators, or principals. These positions generally require additional education, an advanced degree, or certification. An advanced degree in education administration or leadership may be helpful.
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Overall employment of career and technical education teachers is projected to decline 0 percent from 2025 to 2035. Despite declining employment, about 15,500 openings for career and technical education teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Continued interest in career and technical education programs is likely to be tempered as schools continue to require students to take more academic classes and the number of students in middle and high schools is expected to decline. In addition, public schools often depend on government funding for career and technical education programs. When budgets for these programs are reduced, jobs for career and technical education teachers may be limited. Career and Technical Education Teachers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Total, all occupations 3% Educational instruction and library occupations 1% Career and technical education teachers 0% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Career and Technical Education Teachers Do
Career and technical education (CTE) teachers provide training in subjects such as auto repair, cosmetology, and culinary arts. They teach vocational and technical content to give students the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.
Duties
Career and technical education teachers typically do the following:
- Create lesson plans and assignments
- Instruct students on how to develop certain skills
- Show students how to apply classroom knowledge through hands-on activities
- Demonstrate and supervise safe and proper use of tools and equipment
- Monitor students’ progress, assign tasks, and grade assignments
- Discuss students’ progress with parents, students, and counselors
- Develop and enforce classroom rules and safety procedures
CTE teachers help students explore and prepare to enter a career or technical occupation. They use a variety of teaching methods to help students learn and develop skills related to a specific occupation or career field. They demonstrate tasks, techniques, and tools used in an occupation. They may assign hands-on tasks, such as replacing brakes on cars, taking blood pressure, or applying makeup. Teachers typically oversee these activities in workshops and laboratories in the school.
Some teachers work with local businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide practical work experience for students. They also serve as advisers to students participating in career and technical student organizations.
The specific duties of CTE teachers vary by the grade and subject they teach. In middle schools and high schools, they teach general concepts in a classroom and practical exercises in workshops and laboratories.
In postsecondary schools, they teach specific career skills that help students earn a certificate, a diploma, or an associate’s degree and prepare them for a specific job. For example, welding instructors teach students welding techniques and safety practices. They also monitor the use of tools and equipment and have students practice procedures until they meet the standards required by the trade.
In most states, teachers in middle and high schools teach one subject within major career fields. CTE teachers combine academic instruction with experiential learning in their subject of expertise.
For example, teachers of courses in agricultural, food, and natural resources teach topics such as agricultural production; agriculture-related business; veterinary science; and plant, animal, and food systems. They may have students plant and care for crops and animals to apply what they have learned in the classroom.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Career and technical education teachers held about 250,200 jobs in 2025. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up career and technical education teachers was distributed as follows:
| Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary | 123,100 |
| Career/technical education teachers, secondary school | 110,500 |
| Career/technical education teachers, middle school | 16,600 |
The largest employers of career and technical education teachers were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 47% |
| Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state and local (6112,3) | 21 |
| Technical and trade schools; private | 16 |
| Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; private (6112,3) | 5 |
Career and technical education teachers typically work in middle, high, and postsecondary schools, such as 2-year colleges. Others work in technical, trade, and business schools.
Work Schedules
Career and technical education teachers in middle and high schools generally work during school hours. They may meet with parents, students, and school staff before and after classes.
Some career and technical education teachers, especially those in postsecondary schools, teach courses and develop lesson plans during evening hours and on weekends.
Teachers usually work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break. Some teachers work for summer programs.
Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 9 weeks in a row and then have a break for 3 weeks before starting a new school session.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Career and technical education teachers must explain concepts in terms that students can understand. Organizational skills. Career and technical education teachers must coordinate their time and teaching materials. Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult. Teachers must be even-tempered with students to develop a positive learning environment. Resourcefulness. Teachers need to create different ways of presenting information and demonstrating tasks so that all students learn the material.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about career and technical education teachers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.