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

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School fall under the Education, Training, and Library category in the U.S. occupational classification. Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School earn a median salary of $63,910 per year, ranking in the top 41% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -1.8% 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, secondary school earn?

The median annual wage for career/technical education teachers, secondary school is $63,910. That puts career/technical education teachers, secondary school at #330 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, secondary school a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for career/technical education teachers, secondary school is -1.8%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 103K positions in 2024 to 101K in 2034, a net change of -2K. 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, secondary school do every day?

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

1. 1.Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
2. 2.Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
3. 3.Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
4. 4.Plan and supervise work-experience programs in businesses, industrial shops, and school laboratories.
5. 5.Place students in jobs, or make referrals to job placement services.
6. 6.Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
7. 7.Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
8. 8.Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.

Top skills for career/technical education teachers, secondary 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, secondary school?

The standard path into career/technical education teachers, secondary 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
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• Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
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Common questions parents ask about career/technical education teachers, secondary school