Career and technical education teachers at the middle school level prepare students for hands-on trades and skilled careers. You combine subject expertise with teaching skill, working in classrooms and labs. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry point.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You teach career and technical subjects to middle school students, helping them explore trades and skilled professions. Your work involves planning lessons, delivering instruction, and assessing student learning. You stay current with your field's evolving tools and techniques. You communicate regularly with colleagues, administrators, and families about student progress. You also build strong relationships with students to support their growth and engagement in hands-on, project-based learning.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School earn a median of $65,030 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is softer here. Employment is projected to fall 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, though there are still about 900 openings a year from turnover.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most career and technical education teachers earn a bachelor's degree, often in education combined with expertise in a specific trade or technical field. Your program will include coursework in education, teaching methods, and your subject area. You will also complete student teaching to gain classroom experience under supervision. Requirements vary by state, so check your state's education department for specific licensure and certification pathways before you apply to programs.
Most teachers follow a bachelor's degree path, though some states offer alternative routes. If you are exploring how to become a career and technical education teacher, Pathly can map the career/technical education teacher, middle school path that fits you with your school counselor to map out the steps that fit your timeline and goals.
You do not need a license to work as a career/technical education teacher, middle school, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You thrive in roles where you guide and support others. You enjoy building relationships, communicating clearly, and helping people develop new skills and confidence.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).