Education & Library
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Automotive Instructor, Automotive Technology Instructor, Cosmetology Instructor, Flight Instructor
US median pay
$63,820
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-0.3%
declining
Openings a year (US)
8,000
123,100 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Develop curricula and plan course content and methods of instruction.
- Determine training needs of students or workers.
- Supervise independent or group projects, field placements, laboratory work, or other training.
- Integrate academic and vocational curricula so that students can obtain a variety of skills.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Instructing4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.2/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.2/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
- Persuasion3.0/5
Knowledge
- Education and Training4.5/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Mechanical3.7/5
- Mathematics3.7/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- Administrative3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Associate's degree42%
- Bachelor's degree20%
- Post-secondary certificate16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.