Career and technical education teachers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Career and technical education teachers in the United States earn a median salary of $65,030 per year — about $31 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 240K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -1%.
AI & Automation Risk
While AI can significantly automate lesson planning, grading, and the delivery of theoretical knowledge, the core of this occupation involves supervising hands-on activities in physical environments like workshops and labs. Teaching students to safely use physical tools for trades like welding, culinary arts, or auto repair requires real-time human presence and physical intervention that AI cannot currently replicate.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OHBEST VALUE | $103,580 | Below avg (95.5) | $108,496 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $107,960 | Average (100.3) | $107,588 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $107,620 | Average (100.1) | $107,535 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $100,030 | Below avg (94.7) | $105,661 |
| Yakima, WA | $99,550 | Below avg (95.5) | $104,192 |
| Cleveland, OH | $94,990 | Below avg (93.9) | $101,136 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $105,240 | Above avg (105.4) | $99,828 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $94,870 | Below avg (95.4) | $99,476 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $100,450 | Above avg (103.9) | $96,721 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $97,240 | Average (101.8) | $95,546 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $98,430 | Above avg (103.7) | $94,946 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $96,950 | Average (102.7) | $94,359 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $103,490 | Above avg (111.1) | $93,123 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $99,040 | Above avg (106.9) | $92,679 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $87,860 | Below avg (95.1) | $92,399 |