Who Earns What

How much does a career skills teacher make?

US Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
$66,270

a year · about $32 an hour

A typical career skills teacher in the United States makes $66,270 a year, about $32 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What do they do?

They plan lessons, show students how to use tools safely, then coach hands-on projects in a shop or lab. They check work, grade assignments, track progress, and may talk with families or local employers.

Did you know? A CTE class might teach students to replace car brakes, take blood pressure, or apply makeup—not just read about jobs.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$66,270
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $50,040 and $101,340
55 of 100
more than half

How do you become one?

In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree in your subject and build related work experience; public-school jobs require student teaching and meeting state licensing rules. Some states offer routes for experienced workers, and there is no set starting age.

School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree

Good for people who like helping and teaching and keeping things organized

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., experience and education can change pay because some school pay schedules use years worked and degree level. Pay also differs by state or area and employer; a subject-specific license may be required for some CTE classes, but it does not guarantee higher pay.

Where does it pay most?

Highest in Washington ($101,180), lowest in Indiana ($56,390).

See every state
Whole US$66,270
Washington$101,180
Connecticut$100,810
Massachusetts$98,020
New Jersey$83,770
California$80,620
West Virginia$57,760
Iowa$57,660
Indiana$56,390

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

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Who earns more?
Data table and sources
Career skills teacher pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$50,040$66,270$101,340about 111,000
States where career skills teachers earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Washington$101,180about 3,000
Connecticut$100,810about 2,000
Massachusetts$98,020about 3,000
New Jersey$83,770about 2,000
California$80,620about 3,000

Official definition: Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the secondary school level. Excludes “Special Education Teachers” (25-2050), and “Substitute Teachers, Short-Term” (25-3031).

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY