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 (94.6) | $109,458 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $107,620 | Average (98.9) | $108,833 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $107,960 | Average (100.9) | $106,971 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $100,030 | Below avg (94.7) | $105,622 |
| Cleveland, OH | $94,990 | Below avg (92.9) | $102,240 |
| Yakima, WA | $99,550 | Average (97.9) | $101,683 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $94,870 | Below avg (94.2) | $100,686 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $105,240 | Above avg (106.7) | $98,619 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $100,450 | Average (101.9) | $98,570 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $97,240 | Average (101.5) | $95,793 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $96,950 | Above avg (103.3) | $93,859 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $99,040 | Above avg (107.0) | $92,551 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $98,430 | Above avg (106.4) | $92,544 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $87,860 | Below avg (95.0) | $92,511 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $103,490 | Above avg (112.7) | $91,803 |