CTE Teaching Degree Programs in Pennsylvania (2026)

Q: "How much do career and technical education teachers make in Pennsylvania?"

"The median annual wage for career and technical education teachers in Pennsylvania is $75,760, above the national median of $66,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $59,840 at the 25th percentile to $84,300 at the 75th."

Q: "How many career and technical education teachers work in Pennsylvania?"

"Pennsylvania holds about 4,840 career and technical education teacher jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 111,420, and BLS projects about 6,200 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34)."

Q: "Do I need a license to work as a career and technical education teacher in Pennsylvania?"

"Teacher certification is set by each state's education agency. For career and technical education specifically, documented trade experience and an industry license or credential often carry much of the requirement, with pedagogy coursework completed through an alternative certification route. Educator preparation programs may be accredited by CAEP, and many states use Praxis examinations. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state department of education before you enroll in any program."

Q: "Can I earn a teaching degree online while working in Pennsylvania?"

"Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state department of education."

Q: "What is the highest-paying area of Pennsylvania for career and technical education teachers?"

"Among Pennsylvania metro areas with published data, York reports the highest median at $84,300 (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Q: "Is Pennsylvania a good state for career and technical education teachers?"

"On pay, the state median of $75,760 sits above the national $66,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.11 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live."

Updated July 24, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Quick answer: Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in Pennsylvania earn a median $75,760 per year, above the national median of $66,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 4,840 of them. Licensing runs through your state department of education.

CTE Teaching Pay and Employment in Pennsylvania at a Glance

Metric	Pennsylvania	National	Source
Median annual wage	$75,760	$66,270	BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile	$50,040	$50,040	BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile	$59,840	$60,590	BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile	$84,300	$80,060	BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile	$103,430	$101,340	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment	4,840	111,420	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient	1.11	1.00	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)	not published by state	-1.8%	BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Pennsylvania Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Pennsylvania median of $75,760 sits above the national median of $66,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 1.11 puts Pennsylvania slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Pennsylvania

Metro area	Median annual wage	Employment
York	$84,300	160
Allentown	$81,200	550
Philadelphia	$80,070	2,070
Lebanon	$80,060	70
Reading	$77,740	210
Chambersburg	$75,610	70
Scranton	$75,440	150
Erie	$72,190	90
Johnstown	$63,540	70
Pittsburgh	$58,510	1,410

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro estimates cover the wider metropolitan statistical area, not the city limits.

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), career/technical education teachers, secondary school wages in Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	2,070	$80,070	$82,430	$61,220	$107,540
Pittsburgh	1,410	$58,510	$65,970	$50,040	$87,660
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	550	$81,200	$81,780	$64,420	$98,480
Reading	210	$77,740	$78,690	$60,870	$94,600
York-Hanover	160	$84,300	$84,700	$67,350	$104,250
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre	150	$75,440	$70,860	$49,230	$90,500
Erie	90	$72,190	$66,870	$47,150	$81,250
Chambersburg	70	$75,610	$72,550	$57,130	$88,400
Johnstown	70	$63,540	$67,400	$49,230	$79,790
Lebanon	70	$80,060	$77,750	$63,030	$88,780
Harrisburg-Carlisle	N/A	$76,640	$74,940	$59,180	$94,900
Lancaster	N/A	$77,800	$72,270	$57,080	$81,400

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Licensing and Credentials in Pennsylvania

Teacher certification is set by each state’s education agency. For career and technical education specifically, documented trade experience and an industry license or credential often carry much of the requirement, with pedagogy coursework completed through an alternative certification route. Educator preparation programs may be accredited by CAEP, and many states use Praxis examinations.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state department of education that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page: Defines the local group
Graduation rate: 30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry: 25%
Average net price (lower is better): 20%
Retention rate: 15%
Fully online availability: 10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.