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Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊCareer and Technical Education Teacher (CTE Teacher)
Mid-Level

Career and Technical Education Teacher (CTE Teacher)

Your classroom might be a welding shop, a commercial kitchen, or a server room β€” teaching the hands-on, career-ready skills that lead straight to a trade or a job. Education aimed at employment, not just exams.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
S
A
C
I
R
E
Socialhelping, teaching
Artisticcreative, expressive
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Career and Technical Education Teacher (CTE Teacher)s
Professional ServicesEducation Β· 98%Government Β· 2%Healthcare Β· 0%
Job markets for Career and Technical Education Teacher (CTE Teacher)s
Employment concentration Β· ~238 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Education
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Career and Technical Education Teacher (CTE Teacher)

The work blends hands-on instruction with real-world projects and industry connections β€” demonstrating a skill, supervising practice, and linking students to internships or certifications. You teach a wide mix, from eager teens to adult learners. Building genuine competence is the goal β€” skill someone can perform on a real job site, not just describe on a test.

What's harder than it looks is keeping pace with a moving industry while managing equipment, safety, and student readiness that varies widely. Funding, gear, and employer ties differ sharply by program, and you often wear several hats. Safety carries real responsibility, since students are training to do this work for real, with real tools.

It tends to fit someone practical, well-connected, and motivated by tangible student outcomes β€” a credential earned, a kid hired. If you prefer abstract academics or a fixed syllabus, the applied focus may not suit you. But if opening real doors for students energizes you, the work tends to feel genuinely useful, the kind you can point to.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsHigh
AchievementAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
SupportModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Financial Services$96K+59%
Energy & Utilities$92K+53%
Professional Services$91K+50%
Technology & Information$87K+44%
Wholesale & Distribution$66K+10%
Compared to Education average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Career and Technical Education Teacher (CTE Teacher)s (SOC 25-2032.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Education β†’
Career and Technical Education Teacher (CTE Teacher)Accounting TeacherComputer TeacherWeaving TeacherFloral Design TeacherComputer Science TeacherCooking TeacherDriving InstructorDriver Education InstructorVocational TrainerBusiness Education TeacherBookkeeping TeacherDrafting TeacherElectronics TeacherIndustrial Arts TeacherWelding TeacherKey Punch TeacherShorthand TeacherWelding InstructorCosmetology TeacherDrafting InstructorSecretarial TeacherCarpentry InstructorDry Cleaning TeacherLink Trainer Teacher+1 more
Exploring the Career and Technical Education Teacher (CTE Teacher) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$49K–$99K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
104K
U.S. Employment
-1.8%
10yr Growth
6K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$72K$69K$67K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

InstructingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionLearning StrategiesSocial PerceptivenessWritingMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive Learning
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
25-2032.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

directorTechnical Education Director$104KdirectorEducation Director$80KmidAccounting Teacher$74KmidComputer Teacher$64KmidWeaving Teacher$57KmidFloral Design Teacher$57K
View all Education roles β†’

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.