Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
Also called: 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)
Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the secondary school level.
What career/technical education teachers, secondary school do
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustments, academic problems, or special academic interests.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary
The median annual wage for career/technical education teachers, secondary school is $66,270 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $50,040 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $101,340. The mean annual wage is $72,680.
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $66,270 → in 3 years $72,300 → in 5 years $76,600 → in 10 years $88,500 (10-year range $76,100–$102,700). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become career/technical education teachers, secondary school
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as career/technical education teachers, secondary school
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.