Also called: Shop teacher, Vocational teacher, Health science teacher, Culinary teacher
Teaches hands-on career skills in high school, like welding, auto repair, nursing assisting, culinary arts, or computer networking.
CTE teachers run labs that look like real workplaces, from commercial kitchens to auto shops, teach safety, coach students for skills competitions like SkillsUSA, and help them earn industry certifications before graduation.
BLS career/technical education teachers, secondary.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's and teaching license, or industry experience plus an alternative CTE license in many states.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Career & Technical Education, Industry experience (any trade).
Growing slowly (about 0% over 10 years). BLS projects little change, but many states report shortages in technical areas.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps with lesson plans and grading; teaching welding, auto repair or culinary in a live shop stays hands-on.
Classes: A CTE pathway like welding or culinary, Algebra and geometry, Speech.
Official data: O*NET occupation 25-2032.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.