Preschool, Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Special Education Teachers

How to become a Middle School Career or Technical Education Teacher

Official title: Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School

Also called: Agriscience Technology Instructor (Agriculture Science Technology Instructor), Business Education Teacher, Career and Technology Education Teacher (CTE Teacher), Career Discovery Teacher, Computer Technology Teacher, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher (FACS Teacher), Industrial Arts Teacher, Industrial Technology Teacher, Technology Education Teacher (Tech Ed Teacher), Vocational Teacher

Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.

Main tasks

Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.

How to become one

Career and technical education teachers typically need at least a bachelor's degree and work experience in the subject that they teach. Public school teachers may be required to have a state-issued teaching certification or license.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Education & Teaching degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 46 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $65,030 a year The middle half earn $58,690 to $79,990.
About 16,600 people work in this job now, and about 16,600 are projected by 2035. (-0.5%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Middle School Career or Technical Education Teacher?

How much does a Middle School Career or Technical Education Teacher earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $65,030 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $58,690 to $79,990.

Is a Middle School Career or Technical Education Teacher a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 16,600 people now and 16,600 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Middle School Career or Technical Education Teacher?

Usually. 95% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Middle School Career or Technical Education Teacher?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.