Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School (SOC 25-2023) earn a median $65,030 a year in the United States, with 16,870 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What career/technical education teachers, middle school do
Career and technical education teachers in middle schools introduce students in the middle, intermediate, or junior high years to subjects tied to occupations, vocations, careers, and technology. Alternate titles show subjects such as agriscience technology, automotive education, business education, and career discovery. They instruct whole classes and individuals through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations, prepare materials and classrooms, adapt methods and materials to different needs and interests, and set objectives for lessons, units, and projects. They establish and enforce rules for behavior and maintain student records as required by laws and district policies. They also teach and watch students as they use and care for equipment and materials, to prevent injuries and damage, and push students to explore learning that prepares them for later schooling. Special education teachers and short-term substitutes are classified separately.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Agriscience Technology Instructor, Automotive Education Teacher, Business Education Teacher, Business Teacher, Career and Technology Education Teacher.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 16,870 |
| Annual | $49,200 | $58,690 | $65,030 | $79,990 | $101,890 | $71,590 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where career/technical education teachers, middle school earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 720 | 0.20 | 1.87 |
| Annual | $74,590 | $83,020 | $103,290 | $118,750 | $127,540 | $101,520 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.09 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $68,290 | $92,110 | $97,240 | $100,850 | $101,440 | $93,390 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.07 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $61,990 | $73,890 | $95,680 | $107,230 | $120,580 | $90,610 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $51,960 | $67,660 | $93,260 | $107,440 | $125,480 | $89,300 | ||||
| Utah | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $61,690 | $63,420 | $86,890 | $93,720 | $119,230 | $85,530 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 5,230 | 0.37 | 3.42 |
| Annual | $51,840 | $60,670 | $63,330 | $69,090 | $74,970 | $63,960 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,930 | 0.20 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $60,090 | $70,200 | $86,450 | $108,470 | $135,400 | $92,130 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 760 | 0.15 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $40,030 | $47,100 | $52,270 | $57,880 | $68,840 | $53,960 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 720 | 0.20 | 1.87 |
| Annual | $74,590 | $83,020 | $103,290 | $118,750 | $127,540 | $101,520 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 690 | 0.11 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $52,780 | $64,830 | $77,980 | $100,590 | $107,640 | $79,910 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.29 | 2.67 |
| Annual | $74,590 | $82,480 | $107,960 | $110,900 | $118,520 | $97,310 | ||||
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.29 | 2.64 |
| Annual | $64,780 | $79,680 | $107,620 | $115,500 | $116,940 | $97,070 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.04 | 0.33 |
| Annual | $84,300 | $86,450 | $105,240 | $108,620 | $120,290 | $102,060 | ||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $76,740 | $81,870 | $103,580 | $104,010 | $119,550 | $96,230 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 300 | 0.15 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $78,720 | $84,040 | $103,490 | $124,860 | $132,960 | $105,720 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,250 | 0.31 | 2.84 |
| Annual | $61,340 | $63,440 | $65,310 | $73,080 | $75,000 | $66,910 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,010 | 0.11 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $65,680 | $83,820 | $98,950 | $135,050 | $140,800 | $103,430 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 970 | 0.30 | 2.73 |
| Annual | $55,830 | $64,800 | $67,290 | $73,450 | $75,700 | $67,970 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 410 | 0.13 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $51,990 | $60,500 | $77,320 | $102,020 | $106,850 | $78,350 | ||||
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 400 | 0.35 | 3.26 |
| Annual | $58,380 | $60,670 | $62,310 | $65,230 | $73,460 | $62,920 | ||||
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $61,820 for career/technical education teachers, middle school in May 2021 and $65,030 in May 2025, with employment of 11,840 and 16,870.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $61,820 | * | 11,840 |
| May 2022 | $62,630 | * | 11,110 |
| May 2023 | $63,860 | * | 12,210 |
| May 2024 | $63,620 | * | 14,200 |
| May 2025 | $65,030 | * | 16,870 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
34 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | * | $103,290 | $74,590 | $127,540 | 720 | 0.20 | 1.87 |
| 2 | Rhode Island profile | * | $97,240 | $68,290 | $101,440 | 50 | 0.09 | 0.84 |
| 3 | Connecticut profile | * | $95,680 | $61,990 | $120,580 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.63 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | * | $93,260 | $51,960 | $125,480 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Utah profile | * | $86,890 | $61,690 | $119,230 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | Ohio profile | * | $86,560 | $49,780 | $114,610 | 590 | 0.11 | 0.98 |
| 7 | New York profile | * | $86,450 | $60,090 | $135,400 | 1,930 | 0.20 | 1.83 |
| 8 | Maryland profile | * | $84,160 | $36,870 | $102,020 | 210 | 0.08 | 0.71 |
| 9 | Minnesota profile | * | $81,460 | $45,720 | $88,770 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.50 |
| 10 | Illinois profile | * | $80,700 | $53,890 | $113,320 | 240 | 0.04 | 0.36 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania profile | * | $77,980 | $52,780 | $107,640 | 690 | 0.11 | 1.04 |
| 12 | Wisconsin profile | * | $76,860 | $50,450 | $100,290 | 570 | 0.20 | 1.80 |
| 13 | Georgia profile | * | $73,020 | $44,990 | $96,680 | 560 | 0.11 | 1.05 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | * | $68,280 | $56,160 | $94,700 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Virginia profile | * | $67,460 | $50,340 | $103,990 | 640 | 0.16 | 1.43 |
| 16 | Colorado profile | * | $66,310 | $49,610 | $100,890 | 470 | 0.17 | 1.52 |
| 17 | Iowa profile | * | $63,360 | $47,430 | $75,820 | ** | ** | ** |
| 18 | Texas profile | * | $63,330 | $51,840 | $74,970 | 5,230 | 0.37 | 3.42 |
| 19 | Wyoming profile | * | $62,710 | $51,050 | $70,920 | 100 | 0.37 | 3.42 |
| 20 | Nebraska profile | * | $62,580 | $50,210 | $83,080 | 370 | 0.36 | 3.31 |
| 21 | South Carolina profile | * | $62,160 | $51,760 | $77,170 | 170 | 0.07 | 0.67 |
| 22 | Tennessee profile | * | $61,950 | $50,420 | $76,850 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.31 |
| 23 | Arkansas profile | * | $60,760 | $51,020 | $66,030 | 90 | 0.07 | 0.62 |
| 24 | Michigan profile | * | $60,650 | $58,190 | $97,360 | ** | ** | ** |
| 25 | Florida profile | * | $58,760 | $50,250 | $81,130 | 610 | 0.06 | 0.57 |
| 26 | Kansas profile | * | $58,560 | $43,740 | $66,800 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.22 |
| 27 | Alabama profile | * | $58,410 | $44,140 | $105,190 | 640 | 0.30 | 2.80 |
| 28 | Louisiana profile | * | $56,440 | $19,070 | $77,890 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.60 |
| 29 | Mississippi profile | * | $55,210 | $44,270 | $63,000 | 270 | 0.24 | 2.16 |
| 30 | Indiana profile | * | $54,960 | $46,600 | $81,690 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.21 |
| 31 | Oklahoma profile | * | $54,090 | $40,700 | $77,960 | 110 | 0.07 | 0.60 |
| 32 | Missouri profile | * | $52,630 | $41,040 | $100,120 | 240 | 0.08 | 0.75 |
| 33 | North Carolina profile | * | $52,270 | $40,030 | $68,840 | 760 | 0.15 | 1.41 |
| 34 | North Dakota profile | * | $46,530 | $46,530 | $73,970 | 220 | 0.52 | 4.81 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (25-2020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Educational Instruction and Library Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 25-2023 Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them. A withheld or top-coded cell in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 25-2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 25-2023.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.