Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School fall under the Education, Training, and Library category in the U.S. occupational classification. Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School earn a median salary of $63,620 per year, ranking in the top 41% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -2.0% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do career/technical education teachers, middle school earn?

The median annual wage for career/technical education teachers, middle school is $63,620. That puts career/technical education teachers, middle school at #334 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is career/technical education teachers, middle school a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for career/technical education teachers, middle school is -2.0%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 14K positions in 2024 to 13K in 2034, a net change of -1K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do career/technical education teachers, middle school do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working career/technical education teachers, middle school, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
2. 2.Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
3. 3.Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.
4. 4.Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
5. 5.Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
6. 6.Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of middle school programs.
7. 7.Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
8. 8.Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.

Top skills for career/technical education teachers, middle school

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become career/technical education teachers, middle school?

The standard path into career/technical education teachers, middle school begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Law Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
  $106,120 median
• Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
  $105,620 median
• Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
  $101,480 median
• Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
  $101,390 median

Common questions parents ask about career/technical education teachers, middle school