Also called: Trade school instructor, Welding instructor, HVAC instructor, Diesel instructor
Teaches a skilled trade at a community college or trade school.
Vocational instructors demonstrate techniques in the shop, supervise students practicing on real equipment, grade projects, and keep up with industry changes. Most spent years working in the trade first.
BLS career/technical education teachers, postsecondary.
Certificate, about 8 years after high school. Years of industry experience and licenses in the trade; some programs require an associate or bachelor's.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification, 2-year college. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Welding Technology, HVAC, Automotive Technology.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS projects modest growth.
Low risk for 10 years. AI and simulators help teach theory; demonstrating techniques in the shop and checking students' work stay human.
Classes: A CTE pathway in a trade, Algebra and geometry, Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 25-1194.
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.