Career and Technical Education Teacher
SOC 25-2032.00 · ESCO 2310 · OSCA 252231
Role snapshot
Overview
Teaches practical vocational skills such as welding, culinary arts, or IT in secondary or post-secondary settings. Designs hands-on curricula, maintains workshop equipment, and helps students earn industry certifications. This role involves preparing students for specific careers by providing both theoretical knowledge and practical application, fostering skill development, and connecting learning to real-world employment opportunities.
Prepares students for in-demand careers, equipping them with practical skills and industry certifications that lead to direct employment or further education, strengthening the workforce and local economy.
On the job
- Develop and implement hands-on lesson plans and curricula aligned with industry standards.
- Instruct students in technical skills using various teaching methods, including lectures, demonstrations, and practical exercises.
- Maintain and troubleshoot specialized equipment and tools in a workshop or lab setting.
- Assess student progress, provide constructive feedback, and prepare them for industry certification exams.
- Collaborate with local businesses and industry partners to ensure curriculum relevance and facilitate internships or apprenticeships.
Tools & technology
Average salary
Job outlook
GrowingJob growth is expected to be above average over the next five years.
Education & training
A bachelor's degree in a relevant technical field or education, often combined with significant industry experience and state teaching certification.
AI impact outlook
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detail
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detailWhy this role received this rating
Core task exposure
high
How much of the role’s important work could AI perform?
AI can assist with curriculum design, lesson plan generation, and initial assessment feedback for theoretical components.
End-to-end automation
low
Can AI complete the work without substantial human involvement?
Hands-on instruction, equipment maintenance, and direct mentorship in a physical vocational setting cannot be automated end-to-end.
Adoption pressure
moderate
How likely are employers to introduce AI into this work?
Educational institutions will adopt AI for efficiency, but budget constraints and the specialized nature of technical instruction temper rapid, deep integration.
Human dependence
strong
How much does success depend on human judgement, relationships and accountability?
Success hinges on human demonstration of skills, practical guidance, ensuring safety, and building confidence for physical tasks.
Protective — a higher rating lowers the overall score.
Role adaptability
strong
How easily can the role evolve as AI takes on more tasks?
The vocational fields taught constantly evolve, requiring teachers to readily adapt curricula and integrate new technologies and industry best practices.
Shown for context — not part of the score.
What AI may take on
These are the parts of the role most likely to be automated or significantly accelerated.
- Generating draft lesson plans and curriculum outlines
- Creating initial assessment questions and grading objective assignments
- Summarizing industry standards and best practices for curriculum updates
- Providing basic troubleshooting guides for common equipment issues
- Managing student progress tracking and certification readiness checklists
Where people remain essential
These parts continue to depend heavily on human judgement, relationships and accountability.
- Demonstrating complex technical skills and providing physical corrections
- Maintaining and troubleshooting specialized workshop equipment
- Ensuring student safety in practical, hazardous environments
- Fostering creativity and problem-solving in hands-on projects
- Building relationships with local businesses for internships
- Adapting instruction to diverse learning styles during practical application
How the role may evolve
From comprehensive lesson creation to expert guidance and practical application.
The role shifts from extensive content and lesson plan creation towards higher-value activities like personalized coaching, hands-on demonstration, and direct industry connection. Teachers become more of a master craftsperson and mentor.
Strengthen your future fit
- Deepening practical expertise in core vocational skills
- Developing advanced pedagogical techniques for hands-on learning
- Cultivating strong industry connections and mentorship networks
- Becoming adept at integrating emerging tools and technologies into practical instruction
- Focusing on safety protocols and risk management in technical environments
- Assessment horizon
- 3–7 years
- Confidence
- High
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
- Methodology
- v1.0
This assessment reflects current AI capabilities and expected adoption patterns. Actual impacts will vary by industry, employer and the way each role is performed.
Career pathways
WHERE YOU COULD GO
CURRENT ROLE
Career and Technical Education Teacher
Teaching & Instruction
ADJACENT MOVES
STARTING POINTS
Who thrives here
Interest profile
social · SCA
Individuals who enjoy teaching and mentoring, structuring practical learning experiences, and creatively adapting methods to engage students in vocational skills will thrive here.
Personality characteristics
Organized
Manages complex curriculum, equipment, and student progress with meticulous attention to detail and adherence to safety standards.
Supportive
Builds strong rapport with students, offering patient guidance and encouragement to help them master challenging technical skills.
Engaging
Enjoys presenting information, demonstrating techniques, and actively interacting with students and industry partners.
Adaptable
Continuously updates teaching methods and curriculum to incorporate new industry technologies and student needs.
Calm under pressure
Maintains composure and provides clear direction in a busy workshop environment, especially during practical demonstrations or equipment issues.
Best for
- People passionate about sharing practical skills and preparing the next generation for skilled trades and technical careers.
- Individuals who enjoy a mix of hands-on work, teaching, and curriculum development.
- Those who find satisfaction in seeing direct, tangible results from their teaching efforts.
- Educators who value structure and clear learning outcomes combined with practical application.
Watch out for
- Requires continuous updating of technical skills to keep pace with industry changes.
- Can involve managing diverse student needs and behavioral challenges in a practical setting.
- Administrative tasks and record-keeping are a consistent part of the role.
A week in the life
A representative working week for a Career and Technical Education Teacher — where the deep work, meetings, and admin actually land.
Real people. Real results.
Thousands of people
can't be wrong.
Frequently asked questions about Career and Technical Education Teacher roles
What does a Career and Technical Education Teacher do?
A Career and Technical Education Teacher teaches practical vocational skills such as welding, culinary arts, or IT in secondary or post-secondary settings. Designs hands-on curricula, maintains workshop equipment, and helps students earn industry certifications. This role involves preparing students for specific careers by providing both theoretical knowledge and practical application, fostering skill development, and connecting learning to real-world employment opportunities. Prepares students for in-demand careers, equipping them with practical skills and industry certifications that lead to direct employment or further education, strengthening the workforce and local economy.
How much does a Career and Technical Education Teacher earn?
A Career and Technical Education Teacher earns a median of $65,000 per year in the US, typically ranging from $50,000 to $85,000.
What qualifications do you need to become a Career and Technical Education Teacher?
To become a Career and Technical Education Teacher, a bachelor's degree in a relevant technical field or education, often combined with significant industry experience and state teaching certification. State teaching certification in career and technical education.
What personality suits a Career and Technical Education Teacher?
Career and Technical Education Teacher roles tend to suit people who are warm and cooperative — tuned in to the people around them (Agreeableness 75/100) and highly conscientious — precise, organised and strong on follow-through (Conscientiousness 72/100). The traits that matter most in the role are Organized, Supportive, Engaging and Adaptable. Manages complex curriculum, equipment, and student progress with meticulous attention to detail and adherence to safety standards. On interests, Career and Technical Education Teacher maps to a SCA Holland Code profile — individuals who enjoy teaching and mentoring, structuring practical learning experiences, and creatively adapting methods to engage students in vocational skills will thrive here.
Who does a Career and Technical Education Teacher role suit?
A Career and Technical Education Teacher role is usually a strong fit for these reasons. Strong Social alignment: the role is fundamentally about teaching, mentoring, and guiding students. High Conventional interest: involves structuring lessons, managing resources, and adhering to standards and safety protocols. Opportunities for Artistic expression: designing engaging curricula and adapting teaching methods to diverse learners.
What are the downsides of being a Career and Technical Education Teacher?
Career and Technical Education Teacher roles come with trade-offs worth weighing up. Requires continuous updating of technical skills to keep pace with industry changes. Can involve managing diverse student needs and behavioral challenges in a practical setting. Administrative tasks and record-keeping are a consistent part of the role.
What is the work environment like for a Career and Technical Education Teacher?
Work as a Career and Technical Education Teacher is mostly mixed-based with onsite arrangements common, semi-structured — a mix of set processes and self-directed work, a moderate pace and high exposure to clients or stakeholders.
What skills do you need to be a Career and Technical Education Teacher?
Core skills for a Career and Technical Education Teacher include Curriculum development, Hands-on instruction, Classroom management, Technical skill demonstration, Mentorship and guidance and Equipment maintenance.
How do you become a Career and Technical Education Teacher?
Common entry routes into Career and Technical Education Teacher roles include Industry Professional, Vocational School Graduate and Substitute Teacher.
What career progression is there for a Career and Technical Education Teacher?
From a Career and Technical Education Teacher role, common next steps include CTE Program Coordinator and School Administrator; lateral moves include Instructional Designer (Corporate).
What is the job outlook for Career and Technical Education Teacher roles?
The outlook for Career and Technical Education Teacher roles is currently rated growing. Job growth is expected to be above average over the next five years.
Will AI replace Career and Technical Education Teacher roles?
Traitstack rates automation risk for Career and Technical Education Teacher roles at 46 out of 100, which is moderate. AI will assist with curriculum and assessment, but hands-on skill transfer, complex problem-solving, and safety oversight remain fundamentally human. AI is most likely to take on generating draft lesson plans and curriculum outlines, creating initial assessment questions and grading objective assignments and summarizing industry standards and best practices for curriculum updates. Demonstrating complex technical skills and providing physical corrections, maintaining and troubleshooting specialized workshop equipment and ensuring student safety in practical, hazardous environments stay with people. From comprehensive lesson creation to expert guidance and practical application. That score measures how much of the work could change, not the likelihood the job disappears. It is Traitstack's current view, revisited as AI capability moves.