Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School: Job Description
Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the secondary school level.
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What Do Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School Take On?
Typical responsibilities of career/technical education teachers, secondary school include:
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Prepare materials and classroom for class activities.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Instruct students in the knowledge and skills required in a specific occupation or occupational field, using a systematic plan of lectures, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and laboratory, shop, and field studies.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injury and damage.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
What Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School Need to Know
Effective career/technical education teachers, secondary school draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Agricultural Education Instructor
- Agricultural Education Teacher
- Agriculture Education Instructor
- Agriculture Teacher
- Agriscience Instructor
- Allied Health Teacher
- Auto Body Repair Teacher (Automotive Body Repair Teacher)
- Auto Mechanics Instructor (Automotive Mechanics Instructor)
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 1,270,227 career/technical education teachers, secondary school working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +9.0% over the projection horizon.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $46,297 |
| Hourly median | $22.26 |
| 10th percentile | $33,171 |
| 25th percentile | $39,734 |
| 75th percentile | $52,860 |
| 90th percentile | $59,423 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $98,580 |
| Connecticut | $97,020 |
| District of Columbia | $96,710 |
| Massachusetts | $92,600 |
| Alabama | $85,400 |
| California | $81,860 |
| New Jersey | $80,860 |
| Maryland | $79,930 |
| New York | $79,800 |
| Oregon | $79,720 |
| Rhode Island | $78,780 |
| Delaware | $76,930 |
| Missouri | $76,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,210 |
| Ohio | $76,120 |
| Vermont | $76,030 |
| Alaska | $75,200 |
| Illinois | $75,090 |
| Michigan | $73,900 |
| New Hampshire | $72,820 |
| New Mexico | $70,710 |
| Wisconsin | $66,820 |
| Virginia | $65,460 |
| Utah | $65,240 |
| Minnesota | $65,070 |
| Georgia | $65,060 |
| Colorado | $62,940 |
| Texas | $62,540 |
| Nebraska | $62,320 |
| Idaho | $62,280 |
| Maine | $62,030 |
| South Carolina | $61,980 |
| Nevada | $61,900 |
| Wyoming | $61,580 |
| Florida | $61,290 |
| Indiana | $60,500 |
| Kentucky | $60,210 |
| North Dakota | $60,160 |
| Arkansas | $60,060 |
| Montana | $59,970 |
| Louisiana | $59,500 |
| Tennessee | $59,460 |
| Iowa | $59,420 |
| Oklahoma | $58,640 |
| Kansas | $57,910 |
| North Carolina | $57,380 |
| Mississippi | $56,990 |
| West Virginia | $56,060 |
| South Dakota | $54,220 |
| Arizona | $54,130 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,960 |
Where Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School Earn the Most
Earnings for career/technical education teachers, secondary school differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $90,265 | 5.5% | 1.22 |
| Far Western US | $88,736 | 7.1% | 0.79 |
| Middle Atlantic | $79,106 | 12.5% | 0.90 |
| Great Lakes | $73,016 | 10.9% | 0.91 |
| Rocky Mountains | $63,023 | 3.0% | 0.84 |
| Southwest | $62,243 | 25.4% | 2.50 |
| Southeast | $61,228 | 29.8% | 1.38 |
| Plains States | $60,723 | 4.6% | 1.24 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $127,680 | 240 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $117,500 | 60 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $105,610 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $103,180 | 170 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $102,240 | 250 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $101,970 | 120 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $101,490 | 120 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $100,560 | 90 |
Top Industries Employing Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
The bulk of career/technical education teachers, secondary school are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 101,890 | n/a |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 120 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for career/technical education teachers, secondary school is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Public Speaking
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Frequency of Decision Making
How to Become Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
Typical career/technical education teachers, secondary school positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Training and Development Specialists (Supplemental)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Supplemental)
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (Supplemental)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for career/technical education teachers, secondary school typically earn programs in:
Education
8 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-2032.00 (Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School).