Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$66,270
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$31.86
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$101,340
entry level starts ~$50,040
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 111,000 employed

How much does a Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School make?

A Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School earns a median annual salary of $66,270 in the United States, which works out to roughly $31.86 per hour for full-time work. Most Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School earn between $50,040 at the entry level and $101,340 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $60,590 and $80,060 a year.

That is $4,880 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School salary range by percentile

Half of all Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School earn between $60,590 and $80,060 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$50,040$24.06
25th percentile (early career)$60,590$29.13
50th percentile (median)$66,270$31.86
75th percentile (experienced)$80,060$38.49
90th percentile (top earners)$101,340$48.72

Highest-paying states for Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School pay at $101,180 a year, followed by Connecticut ($100,810) and Massachusetts ($98,020). At the other end, Montana posts the lowest median at $55,190 — a gap of $45,990 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Washington$101,180$48.64+53%
2Connecticut$100,810$48.47+52%
3Massachusetts$98,020$47.13+48%
4New Jersey$83,770$40.27+26%
5Rhode Island$81,820$39.34+23%

Workforce and education

About 111,000 people work as Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $72,680 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School make in the United States?
The median Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School salary in the United States is $66,270 per year, or about $31.86 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $50,040, while the top 10% of earners make $101,340 or more.
How does Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School median of $66,270 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School, with a median salary of $101,180 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School?
Becoming a Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School work in the United States?
About 111,000 people were employed as Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other education roles with similar pay.

Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

$80,260
median pay · 20,000 employed

Communication Teachers, Postsecondary

$78,580
median pay · 29,000 employed

Museum Technicians and Conservators

$51,440
median pay · 12,000 employed

Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary

$80,340
median pay · 42,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.