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Education

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the secondary school level.

Median salary (BLS)

$66,270

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$50k – $101k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $85,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

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Education

Typical entry: Bachelor's degree

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$40,100–$150,700

Time to qualify

4.3 yr

Renewal

$20/yr

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    State teaching certification

    License

    Approved educator-prep program, pedagogy & subject exams, background check, and a state application.

    $100–$700 · 3 months · varies by state · renews every 5 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

    Entry / Junior

    $50,040

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

    Established

    $66,270

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

    Senior

    $83,805

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Education

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.