Career and technical education teachers instruct students in hands-on trades and vocational skills at the postsecondary level. You'll combine teaching with real-world expertise, preparing students for immediate entry into skilled careers. An associate degree is the typical starting point.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You teach career and technical subjects to students preparing for specific trades and professions. Your days involve planning lessons, delivering instruction, coaching students through skill development, and staying current with industry standards and techniques. You communicate regularly with colleagues and supervisors, organize classroom materials and projects, and gather information about evolving industry practices. You assess student progress, provide feedback, and help learners build both technical competence and professional habits. The role blends classroom instruction with practical, hands-on training.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $63,820 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 8,800 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Start with an associate degree, which is the typical education requirement for this role. Your preparation should include strong knowledge of education and training methods, the technical subject you plan to teach, English language instruction, mathematics, and customer service principles. Develop skills in active listening, learning strategies, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. Many teachers combine formal education with direct industry experience in their field. Consider roles that let you teach, mentor, or train others while building your expertise.
The main route is earning an associate degree while building expertise in your chosen technical field. If you're deciding between different education paths or want to map out your next steps, Pathly can map the career/technical education teacher, postsecondary path that fits you with your school counselor to create a plan that fits your timeline.
You do not need a license to work as a career/technical education teacher, postsecondary, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to working with people, helping them learn and grow. You enjoy explaining concepts clearly, listening carefully, and adapting your approach to different learners.
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).