Careers · Explore one path
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.
Other titles employers use
Automotive Instructor · Automotive Technology Instructor · Cosmetology Instructor · Flight Instructor · HVAC-R Instructor (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, And Refrigeration Instructor) · Instructor · Professor · Teacher
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.
- Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.
- Supervise and monitor students' use of tools and equipment.
- Administer oral, written, or performance tests to measure progress and to evaluate training effectiveness.
- Provide individualized instruction and tutorial or remedial instruction.
- Prepare reports and maintain records, such as student grades, attendance rolls, and training activity details.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and practical work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Subjects to know
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.0 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.6 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.4 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 2.9 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A two-year degree 42%
- A certificate or some college 23%
- A four-year degree 20%
- A master's degree 8%
- A doctorate or professional degree 5%
- High school or less 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Information retrieval or search software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 16,020
- Job openings each year
- 1,300
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 5.5%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 16,020 | 1,300 | 5.5% |
| California | 8,500 | 670 | 1.2% |
| North Carolina | 7,380 | 580 | 1.4% |
| Florida | 7,010 | 570 | 7.2% |
| New York | 6,040 | 80 | 14.2% |
| Washington | 5,140 | 490 | 11.7% |
| Illinois | 4,950 | 390 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 4,280 | 340 | — |
| Georgia | 3,860 | 310 | 4.9% |
| Ohio | 3,560 | 270 | — |
| Virginia | 2,880 | 220 | — |
| Oklahoma | 2,740 | 220 | 4.6% |
| Arizona | 2,620 | 210 | 1.9% |
| Wisconsin | 2,580 | 210 | 3.2% |
| Indiana | 2,570 | 200 | — |
| Tennessee | 2,510 | 210 | 10.1% |
| New Jersey | 2,440 | 200 | 6.6% |
| Kentucky | 2,180 | 170 | — |
| Colorado | 2,160 | 180 | 14.3% |
| Alabama | 2,140 | 170 | 3.9% |
| Michigan | 2,070 | 160 | −3.7% |
| Utah | 2,010 | 180 | 20.4% |
| Iowa | 1,510 | 120 | 4.9% |
| Minnesota | 1,510 | 120 | 2.0% |
| Missouri | 1,460 | 120 | 2.8% |
| South Carolina | 1,270 | 100 | 7.6% |
| Arkansas | 1,250 | 100 | 2.5% |
| Kansas | 1,230 | 100 | — |
| Oregon | 1,190 | 90 | 3.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,160 | 100 | 8.4% |
| Mississippi | 1,130 | 90 | 2.7% |
| Idaho | 1,070 | 90 | 15.1% |
| Nevada | 990 | 80 | 4.2% |
| Maryland | 820 | 70 | 9.3% |
| Connecticut | 780 | 60 | 8.3% |
| Louisiana | 780 | 60 | 1.3% |
| New Mexico | 740 | 60 | 5.7% |
| Massachusetts | 530 | 40 | 8.2% |
| Nebraska | 440 | 40 | 2.3% |
| North Dakota | 420 | 30 | 2.4% |
| West Virginia | 380 | 30 | — |
| Maine | 340 | 30 | −10.5% |
| Rhode Island | 340 | 30 | — |
| Montana | 320 | 30 | 3.2% |
| Alaska | 280 | 20 | 7.7% |
| New Hampshire | 270 | 20 | −6.9% |
| South Dakota | 270 | 20 | 3.8% |
| Delaware | 250 | 20 | 8.7% |
| Wyoming | 190 | 20 | 5.6% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Degrees each year
- 376
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 481
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Virginia Commonwealth University
- Degrees each year
- 342
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
University of Kentucky
- Degrees each year
- 274
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
State University of New York at Cortland
- Degrees each year
- 252
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Berklee College of Music
- Degrees each year
- 452
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $48,000
Brigham Young University-Idaho
- Degrees each year
- 239
- Admit rate
- 97%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Illinois State University
- Degrees each year
- 207
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000