Quick answer:Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in Washington earn a median $101,180 per year, above the national median of $66,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 3,460 of them. Licensing runs through your state department of education.
CTE Teaching Pay and Employment in Washington at a Glance
Metric
Washington
National
Source
Median annual wage
$101,180
$66,270
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$69,270
$50,040
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$79,880
$60,590
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$115,570
$80,060
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$127,890
$101,340
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
3,460
111,420
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.36
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
-1.8%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Washington Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Washington median of $101,180 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 1.36 puts Washington well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (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 Washington
Metro area
Median annual wage
Employment
Olympia
$103,580
130
Bremerton
$103,240
120
Kennewick
$102,420
190
Seattle
$102,180
1,430
Wenatchee
$100,560
100
Mount Vernon
$99,950
90
Spokane
$99,940
250
Yakima
$99,720
200
Walla Walla
$99,420
30
Bellingham
$98,380
100
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 Washington
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), career/technical education teachers, secondary school wages in Washington vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
1,430
$102,180
$102,730
$77,670
$130,400
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
1,360
$81,120
$86,960
$61,990
$118,150
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
530
$86,420
$90,940
$66,240
$105,510
Spokane-Spokane Valley
250
$99,940
$91,860
$65,040
$112,940
Yakima
200
$99,720
$93,370
$67,910
$120,540
Kennewick-Richland
190
$102,420
$95,980
$68,280
$119,910
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
130
$103,580
$101,170
$74,710
$125,480
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard
120
$103,240
$105,290
$75,350
$134,940
Bellingham
100
$98,380
$102,820
$75,120
$133,080
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee
100
$100,560
$89,700
$66,070
$109,800
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
90
$99,950
$102,280
$77,500
$128,120
Longview-Kelso
40
$80,690
$86,210
$68,340
$106,820
Walla Walla
30
$99,420
$88,030
$60,560
$107,040
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 Washington
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 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.
LOCAL RANK
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.
How much do career and technical education teachers make in Washington?
The median annual wage for career and technical education teachers in Washington is $101,180, above the national median of $66,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $79,880 at the 25th percentile to $115,570 at the 75th.
How many career and technical education teachers work in Washington?
Washington holds about 3,460 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).
Do I need a license to work as a career and technical education teacher in Washington?
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.
Can I earn a teaching degree online while working in Washington?
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.
What is the highest-paying area of Washington for career and technical education teachers?
Among Washington metro areas with published data, Olympia reports the highest median at $103,580 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Washington a good state for career and technical education teachers?
On pay, the state median of $101,180 sits above the national $66,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.36 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.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School (SOC 25-2032), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
